The Gunners have had a wide breadth of international experience within their ranks over the years, but surprisingly few from Portugal. As of October 2025, only six Portuguese footballers have made a competitive appearance for Arsenal: Luís Boa Morte, Amaury Bischoff, Rui Fonte, Cédric Soares, Nuno Tavares, and Fábio Vieira - here’s an insight into each individual.
Luís Boa Morte - Pioneer and after Arsenal
Luís Boa Morte was the first Portuguese player to join Arsenal, signing from Sporting CP in 1997. The striker featured frequently in the 1997/98 season, helping Arsenal win the Premier League and FA Cup double, registering four goals and two assists throughout 39 appearances during his stint in North London. After leaving Arsenal in 1999, he continued his career in the Premier League with the likes of Southampton, Fulham and West Ham, and later transitioned into coaching when he retired in 2013.
By 2024, Boa Morte had taken up the role of manager of Guinea-Bissau, but his results were mixed, and he was relieved of his duties in mid-2025 after failing to qualify for major tournaments. He is now assistant manager of Samsunspor in the Turkish Süper Lig.
Amaury Bischoff - The forgotten gamble
If Boa Morte was a pioneer, Amaury Bischoff was a gamble that never paid off. Signed in 2008 after leaving Werder Bremen, Bischoff arrived as a relatively unknown player. Wenger himself admitted at the time that the signing was a “gamble” due to the midfielder’s injury record, and unfortunately, those concerns proved justified.
Bischoff made only a single Premier League appearance for Arsenal, coming on as a substitute against Portsmouth in May 2009. He also featured in the FA Cup and EFL Cup a further three times combined, but injuries and inconsistency led to his release after just one season.
For many Arsenal supporters, Bischoff remains one of the most obscure names ever to wear the shirt - an example of Wenger’s occasional habit of taking risks on little-known players that didn’t quite work out.
Rui Fonte - The young forward who made one competitive appearance
Rui Pedro Fonte, brother of long-time Premier League and Portugal centre-back José Fonte, joined Arsenal’s youth setup from Sporting CP at age 16. Though he was part of Arsenal’s reserves and youth sides for some time, his only competitive first-team appearance came in November 2008, as a substitute in a League Cup match against Wigan Athletic - the a game when fellow Portuguese Amaury Bischoff played. Arsenal did not field him in the Premier League and eventually decided not to extend his contract, so he returned to Sporting.
Afterward, Fonte’s professional journey included loans (Crystal Palace, Vitória de Setúbal, Espanyol), permanent transfers (Espanyol, Benfica, Braga), a stint at Fulham, and, more recently, Portuguese clubs before his retirement in June 2025. While he had a longer career than many Gunners who never quite made the breakthrough, for Arsenal, his role remains insignificant: one competitive appearance, and then he moved on.
Cédric Soares - A reliable backup
Fast forward to January 2020, and Arsenal added its most experienced Portuguese player to date: Cédric Soares. Unlike his predecessors, Cédric was already an established international and had even won Euro 2016 with Portugal.
Arriving on loan from Southampton before signing permanently, the right-back was never intended to be a marquee signing but rather a dependable squad option. Across his time at the Emirates, he has filled in during injury crises, offered professionalism, and provided depth in a position that often lacked stability.
While never first-choice when everyone was fit, Cédric brought valuable experience to a young squad during Mikel Arteta’s early years in charge. His contribution in 64 first-team games may not be headline-grabbing, but his role as a steady backup helped keep Arsenal competitive in turbulent times.
Nuno Tavares - A raw talent
In 2021, Arsenal turned once again to Portugal, this time recruiting Nuno Tavares from Benfica. Seen as a project signing with raw athletic ability, Tavares showed glimpses of potential during his debut season. His forward surges and energy added a new dimension to the left flank, particularly when Kieran Tierney was injured.
However, his defensive lapses and erratic decision-making often overshadowed his attacking promise. Tavares became something of a cult figure among fans - capable of thrilling runs one week and costly mistakes the next.
After a mixed spell in North London, he was sent on loan to Marseille, where he impressed with his attacking output, and then had spells with Nottingham Forest and Lazio. In June 2025, Lazio activated the buy clause in his loan from Arsenal, making his move permanent until 2028. Arsenal received a fee (reported around €8-9 million) and also included a sell-on clause.
Fábio Vieira - The creative hope
The most recent addition to the list is Fábio Vieira, who joined Arsenal from Porto in the summer of 2022. Highly rated in Portugal for his vision and technical quality, Vieira was signed as part of Arteta’s ongoing squad rebuild aimed at bringing creativity and depth to midfield.
Vieira’s time at Arsenal so far has been mixed. While his passing range and intelligence on the ball are clear, he has struggled for consistency and physicality in the Premier League. Injuries have also hampered his rhythm.
In the 2024/25 season, Vieira was loaned back to Porto. His performances there were a mixed bag, just like his days in North London, but showed signs of improvement. Portuguese media noted his creative contributions, though also highlighted ongoing issues with consistency and physicality. Upon returning to Arsenal at the end of the campaign, Mikel Arteta reintegrated Vieira into training. Still, he failed to impress the Spaniard, who had acquired Eberechi Eze, forcing Vieira out of the door again for game time. He has joined Hamburger SV in the Bundesliga for the duration of the 2025/26 campaign on loan.
Final thoughts
Though Arsenal has long been a club associated with international diversity, the number of Portuguese players who have worn the red and white for first-team appearances remains surprisingly small. With just six in the club’s history, it highlights how selective recruitment from certain regions can be, even in an era of global scouting. It’s also a reminder of how rare pathways to the Premier League can be - and why fans often look back at these unique careers with curiosity. Much like niche football trivia or even games such as nj slingo, sometimes the most interesting stories come from unexpected places.
Related: The history of Tottenham Hotspur’s Portuguese stars
