Hamburger SV in London talks for Fabio Vieira

Hamburger SV is taking concrete steps to secure the permanent signing of Fabio Vieira. Sporting director Claus Costa flew to London on Tuesday for personal talks with the Portuguese midfielder and representatives of FC Arsenal, as reported by Absolut Fussball.

The negotiations are proving difficult, however. The clubs' valuations of the transfer fee remain far apart, according to the report. HSV is reportedly willing to pay eight to nine million euros. Arsenal, in contrast, is waiting for a significantly more lucrative offer and could let the process run until deadline day. Should a superior bid arrive, Hamburger SV would likely miss out on the 26-year-old.

Why does Fabio Vieira want to return to HSV?

During his loan spell last season, Fabio Vieira contributed seven goals and five assists in 29 Bundesliga games for Hamburg. Under Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta, however, the Portuguese player has no sporting future and was even left out of the squad for the season opener. Vieira therefore desires a permanent return to Hamburg. HSV had previously allowed an originally agreed purchase option of 22 million euros to expire, highlighting the club's limited financial possibilities.

What is the context of HSV's current situation?

The talks take place against the backdrop of a season that ended with Hamburger SV in 13th place in the final 2025 table, with 38 points. The team scored 40 goals but conceded 54. In their next fixture on August 29th, HSV faces current second-placed side Borussia Dortmund away. Sporting consolidation is a key objective, and reinforcements like Vieira could aid that process. Fans can follow the rest of the season on our fixtures page.

What are the chances of a deal being completed?

HSV's chances are considered good as long as no superior offer for Vieira arrives at Arsenal. AC Milan was recently mentioned as another possible interested party. The final decision could come in the last hours before the transfer deadline. Claus Costa met with Arsenal sporting director Andrea Berta in London, but no concrete negotiations on a fee reportedly took place.

The club from northern Germany must use its limited financial resources wisely. Costa's personal talks with the player demonstrate HSV's serious interest. Whether an agreement is reached now depends largely on the market and the demands of the English club. Further squad details are available on our squad overview.