Arsenal are on the verge of sealing their second signing of the winter transfer window, as Spezia centre-back Jakub Kiwior prepares to complete his switch to North London.
The 22-year-old watched on from the Emirates stands as Mikel Arteta's side beat Manchester United 3-2 on Sunday, having already completed his medical and agreed terms on a four-and-a-half year contract.
An official announcement of Kiwior's transfer - which will cost the Gunners £17.5m and a further £3.5m in add-ons - is now believed to be only a number of hours away, and the Poland international will become Arsenal's second January arrival after Leandro Trossard.
As Kiwior prepares to compete with and cover for Gabriel Magalhaes at the back, Sports Mole takes a closer look at the defender's fledgling career and how he will fit into Arteta's system.
Background
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Born in the city of Tychy in southern Poland, Kiwior began his footballing career at his hometown club before joining the youth academy of Anderlecht in 2016, with the Belgian giants paying approximately £11,400 for the 16-year-old.
After making five UEFA Youth League appearances in two-and-a-half years for Anderlecht, Kiwior tested himself in Slovakia with Podbrezova and MSK Zilina, where he made his breakthrough in senior football as a fresh-faced teenager.
During his penultimate season with MSK Zilina, Kiwior - who had survived the club's cull of 17 players during their pandemic-inflicted liquidation - helped the Slovakian minnows make the Europa Conference League qualifiers, where he played every minute of his side's eight games before they lost in the final qualifying round to Jablonec.
Kiwior's domestic and European exploits caught the eye of Serie A new boys Spezia, who paid €2.2m (£1.9m) to bring the versatile Polish defender to Italy in August 2021, and his career has only been on an upward trajectory since.
Recent form
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As he adapted to the rigours of Italian top-flight football, Kiwior watched on from the bench in the opening two months of the 2021-22 season before making his competitive debut for Spezia against Inter Milan on December 1.
The Pole hardly enjoyed the finest outing - picking up a yellow card as his side lost 2-0 to the then-champions - and he was subsequently dropped to the bench once again for Spezia's following 2-2 draw with Sassuolo before becoming a regular first-teamer.
Largely operating as a defensive midfielder during his debut season, Kiwior made a total of 21 starts in Serie A as Spezia avoided demotion to Serie B - placing 16th - and he transitioned to a centre-back role for the 2022-23 campaign, starting each of his side's 17 Serie A fixtures before talks with Arsenal heated up.
As well as operating in the heart of a back three and at the base of the midfield, Kiwior's left-footedness has also been utilised in a full-back and wing-back role, and it is easy to see why Arteta has singled out the 22-year-old as an ideal fit for his system.
A physically imposing defender at 6ft 2in, Kiwior times his tackles well and is confident on the ball - capable of picking out a long pass and breaking the lines under pressure - and he is not afraid to drive forward into space if the opportunity presents itself.
Ranking in the 91st percentile for blocks versus centre-backs in the past year - unsurprising given Spezia's struggles in Serie A - Kiwior will not shy away from corner or free-kick duties if needed either.
International experience
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Kiwior has donned the Poland jersey from Under-16 to senior level, and he was taken under the wing of former first-team manager Czeslaw Michniewicz in the Under-21s before his step-up to the first team.
The centre-back earned his first senior cap for Poland in June 2022, playing the full 90 minutes of a 2-2 draw with the Netherlands in the UEFA Nations League, and he held his place for the remainder of the 2021-22 tournament, including a 1-0 win over Wales in September.
Despite his relative inexperience, Kiwior had earned the trust of Michniewicz and was called up to the squad for the 2022 World Cup, where he did not miss a single minute of action in Group C, helping Poland keep clean sheets against Mexico and Saudi Arabia.
Kiwior's efforts helped Poland qualify for the last 16, and he kept his place in the starting lineup for the Eagles' knockout meeting with France, but he was taken off on the 87-minute mark as Poland suffered a 3-1 defeat to the eventual runners-up.
The soon-to-be Arsenal defender will expect to play another key role in the Eagles' bid for Euro 2024 qualification later this year, and fellow left-footer Gabriel will relish the cover and competition Kiwior will provide as the Gunners continue to fight for Premier League, Europa League and FA Cup titles in the coming months.
Ben Knapton
