Borussia Dortmund have scouted Sao Paulo winger Lucca Marques on multiple occasions and have identified him as a potential target, according to Sport BILD, though Arsenal are described as significantly further ahead in the race for the 18-year-old Brazilian.
Dortmund’s interest fits a clear pattern of thinking at the club. January arrivals Justin Lerma and Kaua Prates both arrived from South America, and BVB’s scouting network has been shifting its focus increasingly toward the continent as a source of high-ceiling young talent at manageable fees. Lucca slots neatly into that model.
Despite his current Transfermarkt valuation of just €3m, the level of European interest building around him means Sao Paulo’s market value for the player is already moving in one direction only.
Why Lucca Marques has attracted Dortmund and Arsenal interest
Lucca made his professional debut in May 2025 at 17 years old, scoring against Club Libertad on his very first appearance in the Copa Libertadores group stage, becoming Sao Paulo’s youngest ever goalscorer in the competition.
He has since made 16 appearances for the first team and has been promoted from the Cotia academy, where he spent the entirety of his development. He operates primarily from the left flank but is comfortable on either side, combining close control, sharp acceleration and an unpredictability that has made him consistently difficult to defend in his limited senior exposure.
Dortmund’s scouts have watched him on multiple occasions and their assessment is positive, according to BILD. However, the German outlet is clear that the club view a transfer as difficult at this stage, particularly given that Arsenal are already at a more advanced level of engagement.
The Gunners have been tracking Lucca for some time and Sport Witness sources previously confirmed their serious interest ahead of a potential formal offer this summer.
What would a Lucca Marques transfer actually cost?
Sao Paulo extended Lucca’s contract last year, tying him down until December 2028, and have inserted a release clause of €80m for overseas clubs as protection against European approaches. That figure is not what any club expects to pay at this stage of his career.
The realistic expectation is that a negotiated deal significantly below that figure would be the route to getting something done, particularly given the club’s well-documented financial difficulties which create a practical incentive to sell.
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At €3m market value today, any fee agreed would represent an extraordinary profit on a player they developed entirely from youth level. The question is how high the bidding goes before a deal is reached, and how quickly Arsenal move to close this before Dortmund or others escalate their interest.
