Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta is “very taken” with Bayer Leverkusen forward Christian Kofane, according to his agent.
The teenager’s representative, Eric Depolo, was asked about reports linking the player with a move to the Emirates and he replied:
“Yes, Arsenal’s interest is genuine. The manager is very taken with him… I think it’s still too early to say anything, but given that the player speaks Spanish, just like Mikel Arteta, and that William Saliba is originally from Cameroon, I’d say Arsenal have the best chance.”
“Yes, there is contact between me and Arsenal. But their focus is currently on winning the league – everything will fall into place from there. He is a player worth 100 million euros. With Kofane, Arsenal will have a top striker for the next 10 years.”
“I’ve never received as many calls about Kofane as I am now. He is currently the best striker under 21 in Europe and the most complete. He is quick, technically strong, defends excellently and is strong in the air. It is very difficult to find all these qualities in a single striker.”
Kofane has six other suitors
While Depolo confirmed that the Gunners are currently favourites to snap up the 19-year-old, there are several other teams interested in securing his signature too.
Brentford, Everton, Chelsea, Newcastle United, Barcelona and Bayern Munich are also believed to be keeping close tabs on Kofane’s progress.
Why are Arsenal so keen to sign the striker?
As Depolo points out, Kofane is seen as one of the most promising young forwards in European football. He started his professional career with Spanish club Albacete, who had picked him up from his homeland, Cameroon, in the summer of 2024.
After scoring 8 goals in 20 appearances during the 2024/25 season, Leverkusen bought him for €5.25m last year, and he has gone on to score 7 goals and provide 8 assists in 39 appearances this campaign.
Read more about the Arsenal First Team Squad for 2025/26 here
