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TRANSFER NEWS
IN AND OUT: ARSENAL FOOTBALL CLUB
Arsenal are expected to buy and sell players this summer, but who's leaving and who is joining?
16/7/26
Published By:
AFCFLAIR
Confirmed transfers 26/27:
In:
Piero Hincapie - Bayer Leverkusen (£33.9M)
Illan Meslier - Leeds United (Free transfer)
Tommy Setford (Promoted to senior team)
Out:
Jakub Kiwior - Porto (£14.4M)
Leandro Trossard - Besiktas (£15.28M)
Karl Hein - Werder Bremen (£2.54M)
Who is Arsenal rumoured to this summer?
1. Morgan Rogers - Aston Villa
The undisputed crown jewel of Arsenal’s summer transfer plans is Aston Villa’s sensational attacking midfielder, Morgan Rogers. At 23 years old, Rogers has sky-rocketed to the very top of Mikel Arteta’s Wishlist, with the recruitment team identifying his unique profile as the transformative component needed to elevate the frontline. The message echoing out of the Emirates Stadium boardroom is absolute: the Premier League champions view the dynamic playmaker as a non-negotiable target and are fully prepared to break the bank to secure his signature.
Securing a player of Rogers' calibre will require rewriting the transfer record books once again, as Aston Villa are prepared to mount a fierce financial defence. Unai Emery’s side holds all the leverage and has established a strict, unyielding valuation of at least £80 million to even open formal negotiations. While a price tag of that magnitude would cause most clubs to hesitate, Arsenal's hierarchy remains completely unfazed, viewing the substantial investment as a necessary step to lock down a generational domestic talent.
Tactically, Rogers represents the ultimate hybrid weapon for Arteta’s fluid system. While he is naturally gifted as a powerful central attacking midfielder, his immense physical frame, blistering acceleration, and elite ball-carrying ability allow him to operate seamlessly on the left wing. This positional versatility is exactly what Arsenal are looking to strengthen the most this summer, providing direct competition and a terrifying new dimension alongside Gabriel Martinelli and the newly arriving Christos Tzolis.
2. Cristos Tzolis - Club Brugge
Arsenal have officially secured a breakthrough deal with Club Brugge for highly-rated winger Christos Tzolis after shaking hands on a flat €40 million (£34 million) transfer fee. The historic agreement shatters records on two fronts, representing the highest departure fee ever received by a Belgian Pro League club and making the 24-year-old international the most expensive Greek player in football history. Personal terms have been completely finalized on a long-term five-year contract worth roughly £75,000-a-week, with the player scheduled to undergo his medical examinations in London on Friday morning.
The rapid completion of this transfer acts as a direct response to outbound movement within Mikel Arteta’s frontline, with veteran forward Leandro Trossard granted permission to seal a permanent move to Besiktas. Unlike Trossard's preference for operating in tight pockets, Tzolis introduces an ultra-aggressive, explosive dynamic to the left flank, arriving with a reputation as a high-volume dribbler who posted an astonishing 22 goals and 29 assists last season [The Sun, TEAMtalk, Football365]. Club officials are racing to complete his registration before the weekend, aiming to have him integrated into the squad in time to make his non-competitive Arsenal debut during the opening fixtures of the pre-season tour.
3. Bruno Guimarães - Newcastle United
In a massive transfer breakthrough, Arsenal have officially agreed personal terms with Newcastle United midfielder Bruno Guimarães as they prepare to launch a significantly improved second bid. The 28-year-old Brazilian international has been under the radar at London Colney for months, with Mikel Arteta identifying him as the definitive marquee signing needed to anchor his midfield. Guimarães has already instructed his camp to formalise the long-term contract framework after communicating his formal desire to leave St James' Park following Brazil's World Cup exit.
Arsenal originally tested the waters with an opening verbal offer in late June, which was promptly dismissed by the Tyneside club. Uneterred by that initial rejection, sporting director Andrea Berta is now rapidly finalizing a structured, accelerated follow-up proposal worth up to £60 million (€70 million). Armed with the crucial psychological advantage that the player is actively trying to force the move, the Gunners feel they finally have the necessary leverage to break the deadlock and bring Newcastle to the negotiating table.
Securing the midfield mystro will still require a massive fight, as Newcastle remain incredibly reluctant to sell their club captain. The Magpies are under no immediate pressure to raise quick cash after clearing their profit and sustainability worries by selling Sandro Tonali to rivals Tottenham for a staggering £100 million. However, while negotiating with the Newcastle boardroom makes this a very difficult transfer to pull off, the combination of Guimarães' public stance and Arsenal’s imminent formal approach means the deal remains entirely do-able before the summer window slams shut.
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Arsenal have been forced into the centre-back market following a catastrophic injury update regarding William Saliba. After France were knocked out of the 2026 World Cup by Spain, Saliba admitted his severe back injury had worsened, with medical reports now confirming he requires surgery that will sideline him for four to five months. The sudden loss of their defensive anchor has completely shifted Mikel Arteta's summer plans, turning a potential pursuit of a versatile right-back into an emergency hunt for a high-calibre centre-half.
The club has immediately turned its attention to Ezri Konsa, holding advanced scouting reports on the 28-year-old Aston Villa and England defender. While Arsenal believe they can tempt Villa with an opening package around £35 million, senior sources in Birmingham indicate that Unai Emery’s side will firmly demand closer to £60 million to part with their key defender. Turning to Konsa would mean a double-raid on Villa Park alongside their primary pursuit of Morgan Rogers, but negotiating a fair price with the midlands club will prove a severe test for sporting director Andrea Berta.
As a direct alternative, Arsenal are heavily considering a high-profile hijack of Chelsea's long-running move for Crystal Palace’s Maxence Lacroix. The 26-year-old Frenchman has been deep in talks with Chelsea all summer for a package around €55 million (£47 million), but Palace are holding out for a hefty £70 million warning fee. Given that Lacroix actually replaced the injured Saliba in the French national team during the World Cup, Arteta views his incredible durability and Premier League experience as the ideal tactical cover to steady the backline while Saliba recovers.
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4. Ezri Konsa - Aston Villa
Who is leaving Arsenal this summer?
1. Gabriel Jesus - A wanted man
The biggest outbound financial story of Arsenal's summer revolves around a monumental pursuit of Gabriel Jesus. The Brazilian forward has become the subject of an eye-watering £52 million (€60m) formal bid from Saudi Pro League heavyweights Al-Ahli. While Jesus initially maintained a strong preference to remain in European football, the sheer scale of the contract proposal and the reality of his shifting role under Mikel Arteta have completely altered the landscape of his future.
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The Gunners' hierarchy are highly tempted to cash in on the striker, viewing the £52 million valuation as a spectacular piece of market business for a player who struggled for consistent minutes last term. Crucially, banking a fee of this magnitude provides Arsenal with immense financial leverage under profit and sustainability rules. The club views the potential injection of pure cash as the ultimate catalyst needed to fund their blockbuster, primary pursuit of Aston Villa's Morgan Rogers.
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Arteta is prepared to sanction the departure because his tactical system has evolved away from a traditional focal point, favouring more explosive and versatile wide players who can rotate into the frontline. Selling Jesus allows Arsenal to completely clear his significant salary off the weekly wage bill while simultaneously refreshing the attack with younger talent. With Al-Ahli pushing to close the deal rapidly, negotiations have entered an advanced stage, and the forward's departure is looking increasingly likely before the squad heads out for pre-season.
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2. Leandro Trossard - Turkish transition
Arsenal have officially confirmed the departure of Leandro Trossard, with the Belgian international completing a permanent transfer to Turkish Süper Lig giants Besiktas. The veteran forward brought a highly successful stint in North London to a close after the clubs finalised the paperwork and financial structures over the last 48 hours. Trossard was granted formal permission to travel to Istanbul to complete his medical examinations and sign his new contract, marking the first major senior exit from the Emirates Stadium this summer.
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The decision to sanction the 31-year-old’s departure reflects Mikel Arteta’s ruthless approach to reshaping his attacking options ahead of the new campaign. While Trossard established himself as an incredibly reliable squad asset and a clutch goalscorer during his time under Arteta, the hierarchy viewed this window as the final opportunity to command a respectable fee for the aging forward. His exit frees up significant room on the club’s weekly wage bill, allowing the technical team to reallocate vital resources toward younger, long-term targets.
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Crucially, Trossard's move to Turkey acted as the direct catalyst for Arsenal's incoming business, completely clearing the pathway for the arrival of Christos Tzolis from Club Brugge. The funds and squad vacancy generated by the Belgian's sale were instantly funneled into the €40 million (£34 million) deal for the explosive Greek international winger. By replacing the departing veteran with a high-volume, 24-year-old dribbler, Arsenal have successfully lowered the average age of their frontline while maintaining elite tactical depth on the left flank.
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3. Christian Nørgaard: Surplus to requirements
In a sudden and unexpected twist to Arsenal’s summer clearing out, Christian Nørgaard is closing in on a permanent departure from the Emirates Stadium. The 32-year-old Danish midfielder only arrived in North London during the January window to provide short-term tactical cover, but Mikel Arteta’s aggressive summer rebuild has left the veteran surplus to requirements. With the Gunners actively closing in on marquee midfield signings like Newcastle United captain Bruno Guimarães, the decision has been made to cut ties early and facilitate Nørgaard's departure.​
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The experienced defensive anchor is understood to be in advanced negotiations to return to a prominent role where he can guarantee regular first-team minutes ahead of the new campaign. Having found his opportunities limited behind Declan Rice and Mikel Merino during the business end of last season, Nørgaard’s camp quickly realised that his path to the starting eleven would be blocked entirely under Arteta's evolving system. Arsenal's hierarchy has been cooperative throughout the process, preferring to sanction a swift permanent sale to clear his salary off the books rather than letting him sit on the bench.
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Financially, Nørgaard's impending exit represents another calculated piece of squad management by sporting director Andrea Berta. While the transfer fee will be relatively modest due to his age, the move successfully trims the fringe elements of the squad and slashes a significant portion from the club's weekly wage budget. By moving Nørgaard on alongside the likes of Leandro Trossard and Gabriel Jesus, Arsenal are ruthlessly freeing up the vital squad registration slots and financial flexibility needed to execute their priority incoming blockbusters before the deadline slams shut.
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4. Ethan Nwaneri - Loan move possible
Arsenal are actively preparing to sanction a high-profile loan move for 19-year-old wonderkid Ethan Nwaneri ahead of the upcoming Premier League campaign. The Hale End graduate has long been regarded as one of the most exciting young talents in English football, but Mikel Arteta and the technical hierarchy believe that a full season of regular, competitive senior football is now essential for his development. Rather than keeping him on the fringes of the first-team squad at the Emirates, the club is determined to find a destination where he can play 30+ games as a guaranteed starter.​
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A fierce battle has already broken out among Premier League and top-tier European clubs to secure the dynamic attacking midfielder's services on a temporary basis. Reports indicate that several mid-table English sides have reached out to sporting director Andrea Berta, pitching developmental projects that would hand Nwaneri a central role in their creative setups. Arsenal are carefully vetting every potential suitor, placing a strict emphasis on tactical compatibility, playing style, and the managerial environment to ensure the teenager returns fully equipped to fight for a starting spot in North London next summer.
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Crucially, Nwaneri’s impending loan exit is directly tied to Arsenal's aggressive incoming business in the transfer market. With the club currently prioritizing massive financial outlays for Aston Villa’s Morgan Rogers and negotiating personal terms with Bruno Guimarães, the attacking midfield department is set to become incredibly crowded. Allowing Nwaneri to head out on loan prevents his progression from stalling on the bench while simultaneously freeing up a vital squad registration slot for Arteta's incoming blockbuster additions.
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