Mika Biereth has completed a permanent switch to Austrian Bundesliga strugglers SK Sturm Graz from Arsenal for £4 million. The 21-year-old forward trading life at the Gunners for a new challenge in Austria.
Much impressed by his loan spell at Sturm Graz—nine goals and four assists in 22 appearances—the path for this move was continually laid out. The deal is subject to completion of the necessary regulatory procedures.
The young striker had also made Arsenal’s first-team matchday squad and remained as an unused substitute in the Premier League, FA Cup, and Carabao Cup. Reacting to the departure, Arsenal Sporting Director Edu said:
“We are so proud of the progress Mika has made since joining us. This new opportunity with Sturm Graz is great for Mika, and it’s a good example of what a strong loan development plan produces.
“Mika will be playing Champions League football when the season starts again, which he deserves due to his mentality and recent performances.
“We would like to place on record our thanks to Mika for everything he has done in his time with the club as he moves into the next stage of his career with SK Sturm Graz.”
Who Is Mika Biereth
Mika Miles Biereth, born 8 February 2003, is a professional footballer who plays as a forward for Austrian Football Bundesliga side Sturm Graz. The former Arsenal star represents Denmark at the youth international level.
Mika Biereth career
Mika joined the Arsenal academy in July 2021 and signed his first professional contract at the club. He kicked off his career with Arsenal after joining from Fulham’s academy in July 2021.
In probably the best start to a career imaginable, he scored a hat-trick against Chelsea U-23s in a 6-1 Premier League 2 victory and was nominated for the league’s Player of the Month in April 2022. Though he failed to feature, he was an unused substitute for Arsenal’s first team in the FA Cup, EFL Cup, and Premier League during the 2021-22 season.
In search of regular first-team football, Biereth was loaned out to Eredivisie side RKC Waalwijk for the 2022-23 season, where he scored his first goals in a win against Groningen. In August 2023, he made a move to Motherwell in the Scottish Premiership, for whom he made 15 appearances and scored six goals before being recalled by Arsenal in January 2024. A month later, Biereth was farmed out to Austrian Bundesliga side Sturm Graz, who enjoyed a double-winning season basking on his key contributions of six goals and two assists. This assured his permanent buying by Sturm Graz for £4 million in July 2024.
Mika Biereth Stats
Mika Biereth’s football career underlines his talent and adaptability for a wide array of competitions right from the academy at Arsenal. He built a reputation as a highly prolific scorer in the U18 Premier League, having scored 23 goals and provided 15 assists in 33 games, moving to Arsenal’s Premier League 2 squad where he remained in the same vein, scoring 11 goals with 4 assists in 24 matches. Thus, he is able to shift into different field positions, which characterizes him as a dynamic player.
He had loan spells in some of the competitive European leagues, which really got things moving. He scored 5 goals and created 3 more in 15 appearances for the Austria Bundesliga. When playing in the Scottish Premiership, he chalked up 6 goals and 5 assists in 14 games. More recently, the permanent move to Sturm Graz for £4 million has been a key moment in his development. In total, Biereth has made 117 appearances, scoring 54 goals with 29 assists- sufficient to prove his consistent impact and worth on the pitch.
Mika Biereth SK Sturm Graz contract
The details of the contract are yet to materialize, but following Fabrizio Romano, the confirmation of the fee being 4 million pounds is sure, with Arsenal having a sell-on clause.
