Who is Christos Tzolis? Arsenal's New Set-Piece Specialist Shining After Club Brugge Success

Arsenal Reinforces Left Wing with Christos Tzolis

Before the World Cup wrapped up, Arsenal was already working to strengthen their squad for the upcoming season. Fresh off winning their first Premier League title since 2004 and reaching the Champions League final, the Gunners want to maintain momentum into 2026/27.

The left wing needed attention. Leandro Trossard played a key role last season but, at 31, his contributions—six goals and six assists across more than 2,000 Premier League minutes—felt insufficient. With Gabriel Martinelli inconsistent and Trossard moving on to Besiktas, Arsenal sought fresh options.

Introducing Christos Tzolis

Twenty-four-year-old Christos Tzolis started at PAOK in Thessaloniki, Greece, making 57 appearances before moving to Norwich City for around €11 million ($12.5 million). After one season and 30 games with Norwich, scoring three goals, he was loaned out twice: first to FC Twente in the Netherlands, then to Fortuna Dusseldorf in Germany.

Tzolis thrived at Dusseldorf, which signed him permanently for roughly €3.5 million ($4 million). He netted 24 goals in 37 matches, catching the eye of Belgian powerhouse Club Brugge. They signed him in summer 2024 for €6.5 million ($7.4 million), doubling Dusseldorf’s investment within a year.

At Club Brugge, Tzolis truly made his mark. Over two seasons, he appeared 108 times, scoring 43 goals and assisting 45. His Champions League debut came there, with 21 appearances, three goals, and four assists in Europe’s top competition. Notably, he contributed crucial knockout-stage assists against Atalanta and Aston Villa in 2024/25, and scored against Atletico Madrid in 2025/26.

Transfer Details and Position

Arsenal reportedly paid about £34 million (€39.8 million/$45.7 million) for Tzolis, who agreed to a five-year deal. Primarily a left winger, he's expected to fill the gap left by Trossard. Versatility is his asset: Tzolis can also play as a striker, a No. 10, or on the right wing.

Set-piece delivery is where Tzolis stands out. Last season at Club Brugge, he created 52 chances from corners and free-kicks. To put that in perspective, Bukayo Saka and Declan Rice—among the Premier League’s top set-piece takers—combined for just 39 chances from dead-ball situations.

"Christos Tzolis created 52 chances from set plays for Club Brugge in the Belgian Pro League last season. By comparison, for Arsenal in the Premier League, Declan Rice created 27 and Bukayo Saka 12." — Opta Analyst

How to Say Christos Tzolis

Being Greek, the pronunciation of his name might trip up English speakers. His first name sounds closer to "KREES-tos," not "CHRIS-tos." For his last name, the initial T is silent, so it's pronounced "ZOH-lis."