Arsenal have made an initial enquiry regarding the availability of Juventus winger Kenan Yildiz, but the Italian club have swiftly dismissed any possibility of a transfer, according to reports from The Athletic. The 21-year-old Turkey international has emerged as a potential target for Mikel Arteta as the Gunners consider reinforcing their attacking options ahead of the 2026/27 season.
Arsenal are assessing potential upgrades on their current left wing options, with Leandro Trossard and Gabriel Martinelli both potentially facing uncertain futures at the Emirates Stadium. Besiktas, Atletico Madrid, and clubs in Saudi Arabia have reportedly expressed interest in Trossard, while Martinelli is attracting attention from Bayern Munich and Paris Saint-Germain. Yildiz, who primarily featured on the left wing for Juventus in the recent campaign, scored 11 goals and provided 10 assists in 47 appearances across all competitions.
Former Manchester United and Italy forward Giuseppe Rossi recently lauded Yildiz, describing him as a “super” player and predicting a future Ballon d’Or nomination. Rossi highlighted Yildiz’s maturity and impact for Juventus, comparing him to Lamine Yamal of Barcelona in terms of influence. Despite this high praise and Arsenal’s interest, Juventus are firm in their resolve to retain the player.
Fabrizio Romano confirmed on social media that Juventus have “closed doors” on any potential exit for Yildiz this summer, despite not qualifying for the Champions League. The club recently awarded Yildiz a new contract in February, signalling their long-term commitment to the player. This decisive stance effectively ends Arsenal’s pursuit of the Turkish international for the time being, forcing Arteta and sporting director Andrea Berta to explore alternative targets to strengthen the squad.
