Arsenal nears £80M agreement with Juventus for Kenan Yıldız

Arsenal is approaching a deal to sign Kenan Yıldız from Juventus for a fee in the region of £80 million, according to reports emerging from the transfer market. The move would represent one of the most significant incoming transfers in the club’s recent history, landing a player Juventus had publicly declared untouchable just weeks ago.

Who is Kenan Yıldız?

Yıldız is 21 years old, born on 4 May 2005, and holds both Turkish and German citizenship. He plays as an attacking midfielder and joined Juventus from Bayern Munich on a free transfer in August 2022.

Since arriving in Turin, Yıldız has made over 100 senior appearances for the club. His first-team debut came in November 2023.

In the 2025-26 Serie A season, he registered 10 goals and 6 assists across 33 league appearances, a return that earned him the Serie A Rising Star award for the best under-23 player in the division.

Arsenal had been tracking Yıldız for some time, with a formal inquiry lodged in June 2026. Juventus rejected that approach outright, insisting the player was not available at any price.

On 7 February 2026, Yıldız signed a new deal with Juventus running until 2030.

The numbers and the negotiation

Transfer valuations for Yıldız have ranged considerably depending on which report you read. The figure now circulating for Arsenal’s near-agreement sits at £80 million, though earlier estimates had placed his market value anywhere between £80M and £120M. Some reports indicated Juventus had privately set an asking price as high as €138M.

Arsenal’s interest in Yıldız did not emerge in isolation. The club had previously pursued Vinicius Junior in a high-profile move that ultimately did not materialize, leaving a significant gap in their attacking plans.

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