Kenan Yildiz Arsenal: Arsenal have revived their interest in Kenan Yildiz after missing out on Morgan Rogers and Vinicius Junior, according to a report from Italian outlet TuttoJuve. Arteta wants a left-sided attacker, and the Juventus forward offers something different.
TuttoJuve claims Juventus rejected an Arsenal enquiry and labelled Yildiz “untouchable” and “unsellable”. Juventus have good reason to take that stance. Yildiz signed a contract extension in February that keeps him at Turin until June 2030, giving Juventus a position in any talks.
The reported asking price sits above €100m, or roughly £86m. That figure would make a move difficult, especially after the club missed Rogers, who joined Chelsea, while Vinicius Junior committed his future to Real Madrid.
Kenan Yildiz Arsenal verdict
I’d pay £86m for Yildiz. Yes, it’s a massive fee for a 21-year-old, but Arsenal need a forward who can alter games rather than simply fill a squad slot.
Yildiz scored 10 goals and supplied six assists in 36 Serie A appearances during 2025/26, then added one goal and two assists in 10 Champions League matches. He won Serie A’s Best Under-23 Rising Star award, while his three World Cup appearances for Türkiye gave him another test.
Those numbers are significant. Yildiz can start from the left, drift inside as a No.10 and attack spaces between midfield and defence. His progressive carries and shot-creating actions suit Arsenal’s possession game, while his work in tight areas could give Martin Ødegaard another technical outlet.
Kenan Yildiz Arsenal price
Arsenal have already spent £34m on Christos Tzolis, but that move doesn’t remove the need for greater quality. Leandro Trossard has left, while Gabriel Martinelli doesn’t provide the same blend of creativity and central movement. Tzolis needs time before anyone can call him an elite option.
There’s a risk at £86m. Juventus hold the leverage, and Yildiz’s contract leaves them under little pressure to sell. Still, Chelsea paying £117m for Rogers has pushed the market into strange territory, so Yildiz at £86m doesn’t look outrageous beside that deal.
The wage situation adds another wrinkle. Reports say talks over a significant increase have stalled, although that claim needs stronger confirmation. Arsenal should test Juventus anyway.
Read: Arsenal favourites to complete signing of £100m Liverpool target
If the price really is £86m, I’d sanction it. Yildiz has the versatility, production and technical ceiling to give Arteta a serious left-wing weapon, and Kenan Yildiz to Arsenal could become one of the summer’s biggest stories.
