Jakub Kiwior has revealed how Fabrizio Romano’s trademark “Here We Go” left him stunned as his Arsenal exit to Porto unfolded this summer.
The Poland international completed a loan move to the Portuguese giants with an obligation to buy worth £22.5 million at the end of the season. Arsenal only confirmed the deal on September 1, describing it as a “season-long loan,” but for Kiwior, the final days were filled with uncertainty.
Speaking to O Jogo, the 25-year-old admitted he didn’t immediately say goodbye to his Arsenal teammates when Romano broke the news on August 29.
“It was difficult to say goodbye to Arsenal because I didn’t know when it would actually happen. If I had known the exact day in advance, I would have had time to prepare,” Kiwior explained.
“In the last three days there, I didn’t know which would truly be my last. Fabrizio Romano announced ‘Here We Go,’ and I started receiving dozens of messages and calls congratulating me.
“I was starting training. The players saw it on their phones and asked me why I had put on my kit if it was already closed. I refused to say goodbye there because I still didn’t have information about what might or might not happen.”
Kiwior eventually returned the next day to properly bid farewell to the squad and staff.
“I went to the pitch to say goodbye to my teammates and the coach. They set up a farewell tunnel, and it was tough. I didn’t have everyone I wanted to say goodbye to, and I still had to make some phone calls,” he said.
A Mixed Arsenal Spell
Kiwior joined the Gunners from Spezia in January 2023. His early months were challenging as he struggled with the Premier League’s intensity and made positional errors. But last season, he grew into his role, even outperforming William Saliba during the run-in when Gabriel Magalhães was sidelined.
Despite that progress, Arsenal couldn’t guarantee him regular starts. With Euro 2028 on the horizon and his desire to play week in, week out, Kiwior decided to move on.
Porto Gain, Arsenal Adjust
The switch to Porto looks like the right step for the Polish defender, offering him a chance to establish himself as a leader in defence. Arsenal, meanwhile, moved quickly to cover his departure, bringing in Piero Hincapié from Bayer Leverkusen on an initial loan.
The Ecuadorian, like Kiwior, is comfortable in possession but also brings a more aggressive edge in duels—something Mikel Arteta will hope strengthens his backline.
The Gunners have already felt the pressure of squad changes, suffering their first defeat of the new Premier League campaign in a narrow 1-0 loss at Anfield against Liverpool. They will aim to bounce back when they face Nottingham Forest after the international break.
