Arsenal striker Viktor Gyokeres, who arrived from Sporting CP this summer in a £55 million deal, may be forced to miss important fixtures in 2026 due to an ongoing legal case in Sweden.
The 27-year-old, signed as Mikel Arteta’s long-term solution in attack, has had a mixed start at the Emirates with poor showings against Manchester United and Liverpool but a two-goal display against Leeds United.
Gyokeres has been asked to testify as a witness in a defamation trial involving his agent, Hasan Cetinkaya, who has filed a lawsuit for gross defamation against Swedish outlets Fotboll Sthlm and Expressen. The case stems from allegations published by the outlets linking Cetinkaya and his agency, HCM Sports Management, to criminal gangs, accusations that have been firmly denied.
Lawyer Joakim Lundqvist, who is handling the case, confirmed Gyokeres’ role in the proceedings, stating: “He has been called as a witness to be heard in the case regarding the circumstances described in the evidence.” The Stockholm-born forward, capped 26 times for Sweden with 15 goals, is not accused of any wrongdoing but could be required to appear in court to provide testimony.
Arsenal, who spent around £260 million in the last transfer window to strengthen with additions such as Eberechi Eze, Martin Zubimendi and Piero Hincapie, see Gyokeres as central to their push for a first Premier League title under Arteta after three consecutive runners-up finishes. However, with a court date yet to be set, it remains uncertain which matches, if any, the striker may miss as a result of the legal proceedings.
