Meet Christos Tzolis: Arsenal's New Set-Piece Specialist Who Shone in the Champions League
Before the World Cup wrapped up, Arsenal started bolstering their squad for the upcoming season. After clinching the Premier League title for the first time since 2004 and reaching the Champions League final, the Gunners want to keep their momentum going into 2026/27.
The left wing was a key area needing reinforcement. Leandro Trossard played an important role during the title run but, at 31, his Premier League stats—six goals and six assists over 2,000 minutes—left room for improvement. With inconsistent performances from Gabriel Martinelli as well and Trossard's move to Besiktas, fresh options were necessary.
Enter new signing Christos Tzolis, expected to compete on the left wing and potentially outshine Trossard’s contribution.
Background of Christos Tzolis
Tzolis, 24, launched his career at PAOK in Thessaloniki, Greece, making 57 appearances before moving to Norwich City for around €11 million ($12.5 million). His stint at Norwich included 30 games with three goals, followed by loan spells at FC Twente and Fortuna Dusseldorf.
His time at Dusseldorf proved prolific: after signing permanently for about €3.5 million ($4 million), he scored 24 goals in 37 matches. This caught the attention of Belgian powerhouse Club Brugge, who acquired him in summer 2024 for €6.5 million ($7.4 million), doubling Dusseldorf's investment within a year.
Breakout Performances with Club Brugge
At Brugge, Tzolis truly emerged. He racked up 108 appearances across two seasons, netting 43 goals and delivering 45 assists. His Champions League debut came here too, with 21 appearances, three goals, and four assists in Europe’s top competition. Noteworthy moments include assists in knockout matches against Atalanta and Aston Villa in 2024/25 and a goal versus Atletico Madrid last season.
Transfer Details and Contract
Arsenal paid approximately £34 million (€39.8 million/$45.7 million) for Tzolis, signing him to a five-year deal.
Playing Style and Versatility
Tzolis primarily plays as a left winger, directly replacing Trossard. He can also operate as a striker, attacking midfielder, or switch to the right wing. One of his standout qualities is his set-piece delivery. Last season at Brugge, he created 52 chances from corners and free kicks, surpassing the combined total of Premier League stars Bukayo Saka and Declan Rice, who together managed 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
Detailed Stats at Club Brugge
His Greek heritage makes pronunciation tricky. The first name sounds like "KREES-tos" rather than "CHRIS-tos". The last name drops the 'T', pronounced as "ZOH-lis".
