Arsenal have made an approach to sign Paris St-Germain defender Emmanuel Mbemba on a free transfer this summer, with the 18-year-old expected to cost just over £150,000 in training compensation after his contract expires at the end of June.
The France youth international has been offered a new contract by PSG but is open to a move to a top Premier League club. According to sources familiar with the talks, Mbemba favours Arsenal, having seen the stability and success the team have had under Mikel Arteta’s leadership. The Gunners made early contact with his representatives and outlined what they could offer, drawing parallels to William Saliba’s progression.
“Arsenal have made an approach to sign Paris St-Germain defender Emmanuel Mbemba on a free transfer this summer.”
Saliba joined Arsenal from Saint-Étienne for £27m in 2019 and spent three seasons on loan before becoming a first-team regular. He has since made 184 appearances and helped Arsenal win the Premier League title this season. Arsenal believe Mbemba could follow a similar path: he was told he would go out on a European loan until January 2027, allowing him time to secure a work permit to play in England.
While Mbemba has primarily played as a centre-back for PSG’s Under-19s, the Gunners view him as a long-term option at left-back. He recently captained the PSG Under-19 side to French Youth Cup success at the Stade de France and has made 27 appearances for the youth team this term, scoring twice. PSG’s U19s lost to Real Madrid in the semi-final of the UEFA Youth League.
Arsenal, after winning the Premier League, are expected to be active in the summer transfer window. Mbemba is seen as a promising addition to a squad that already includes Riccardo Calafiori and Piero Hincapie at left-back, with the teenager expected to provide cover in the long term.