Arsenal have made a formal enquiry to Juventus regarding a potential summer transfer for 21-year-old winger Kenan Yildiz, according to reports in Turkish media outlet Turkish Football. The approach follows Turkey’s recent exit from the 2026 World Cup.
Juventus are reportedly unwilling to sell Yildiz, valuing the player at a minimum of €100million (£86m, $114.4m). The club recently extended Yildiz’s contract to 2030 after previous reports in December 2025 suggested Arsenal were monitoring the situation as contract talks stalled.
Yildiz enjoyed a productive 2025-26 season with Juventus, scoring 11 goals and providing 10 assists in 47 appearances across all competitions. He primarily featured as a left-winger, a position Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta is currently looking to strengthen, with Leandro Trossard and Gabriel Martinelli as existing options.
Interest from Arsenal is understandable given Yildiz’s versatility, as he can also play as a second striker. Former Manchester United and Italy international Giuseppe Rossi recently lauded Yildiz as a “phenomenon” and predicted a future Ballon d’Or win, comparing his impact to that of Lamine Yamal at Barcelona.
However, transfer expert Fabrizio Romano stated on X (formerly Twitter) in June that Juventus had “closed doors” on any potential exit for Yildiz, despite failing to qualify for the Champions League. Romano indicated the club views Yildiz as a key player and is committed to retaining his services. The pursuit of Yildiz suggests Arteta is ambitious in seeking a dynamic attacking addition to his squad, though overcoming Juventus’s resolve will prove a significant challenge.
