Wayne Rooney names Viktor Gyokeres as the signing of the season

Manchester United and England legend Wayne Rooney has declared Viktor Gyokeres the Premier League signing of the season following Arsenal's historic title win. The former striker believes the Swedish forward provided Mikel Arteta's side with the decisive edge in the title race, according to Goal.com reports.

Arsenal lifted the Premier League trophy for the first time in twenty years on Sunday, finishing seven points clear of Manchester City. Although Arteta spent over £250 million in the summer transfer window on talents like Martin Zubimendi and Eberechi Eze, Rooney insisted that Gyokeres stood above the rest.

Despite a difficult start to his life in North London as part of the major changes at the Emirates, the 27-year-old forward became the champion team's primary weapon. The striker scored 21 goals across all competitions, playing a crucial role in the domestic league victory and the club's run to the Champions League final.

Speaking on a BBC podcast reviewing the 2025-26 season, Rooney did not hesitate to identify the player who made the biggest impact in the division. The Manchester United icon praised the Swede's contribution to the Gunners' success: "For me, it's Viktor Gyokeres. He gave Arsenal exactly what they were missing, and that was the key factor in this title."

Rooney also noted the changes in Arteta's tactical approach. After finishing second three times in a row, the Arsenal manager moved away from the style of his mentor Pep Guardiola, focusing on building a physically robust and defensively solid team. Rooney added that this shift turned the team into true champions.