Arsenal have identified Juventus forward Kenan Yildiz as a potential target for the left side of their attack after their attempt to sign Vinicius Junior failed.
The Gunners are continuing to work on transfers before the 1 September deadline, with Mikel Arteta looking to strengthen his squad ahead of the 2026/27 Premier League campaign.
Arsenal begin the new league season against Coventry and are aiming to improve on last term, with Arteta keen for his side to retain the Premier League title and go one better in the Champions League.
The club had hoped to sign Vinicius Junior, but the Brazil international decided to remain at Real Madrid. Arsenal also had to abandon the possibility of pursuing Junior Kroupi because of the player’s serious injury.
Despite those setbacks, Arsenal have already added Ezri Konsa, Bruno Guimaraes and Christos Tzolis, while Piero Hincapie’s loan move has been made permanent.
Yildiz is now understood to have emerged as a principal target. The 21-year-old Turkish-German would provide an option on the left, particularly after Leandro Trossard moved to Besiktas. There is also continuing uncertainty over Gabriel Martinelli’s future at Arsenal.
A deal for Yildiz could reportedly cost more than €100m. Juventus would have little desire to lose one of their leading players, who is under contract with the Serie A club until June 2030, although Arsenal’s financial strength could make it difficult for the Italian side to reject a substantial offer.
One possible structure would involve Martinelli moving to Juventus as part of a player-plus-cash deal. However, it is not yet known whether Juventus would accept that proposal or whether the Brazilian would be willing to continue his career in Serie A.
Yildiz’s performances last season explain Arsenal’s interest. He made 47 appearances in all competitions for Juventus during 2025/26, scoring 11 goals and providing nine assists – the club’s best figures in both categories.
He struck the woodwork seven times and recorded 21 fast breaks, more than any of his team-mates. Among Juventus’ regular starters, no player bettered his shooting accuracy of 60.23%, while his 10.69% shot-conversion rate was also among the strongest in the squad.
Yildiz had 88 shots in total, with 53 on target. Both figures were team highs. He was also the only Juventus player to score more than one brace during the campaign, registering two.
His creativity was another major strength. Andrea Cambiaso was closest to Yildiz’s 100 chances created, with 68, while the forward completed 84.08% of his passes.
Yildiz’s willingness to contribute away from the ball may also appeal to Arteta. He contested 471 duels, comfortably the highest total in the Juventus squad. Only Yildiz and Manuel Locatelli, who contested 402, surpassed 400. Locatelli won the most duels, but Yildiz’s total of 224 victories was second.
The forward also recovered possession 162 times. His direct running at opposing full-backs became a notable part of Juventus’ attacking play, although his 33 tackles placed him among the weaker performers in that area. Only seven other Juventus players attempted more tackles.
Arteta may want to improve that aspect of Yildiz’s game, especially because defensive work has occasionally been viewed as a limitation for Martinelli. However, Yildiz’s primary responsibility would be to attack and put pressure on defenders.
His attacking numbers are particularly impressive. He completed 105 successful take-ons, with no other Juventus player managing more than 75, while his 756 ball carries and 830 passes into the final third were also team-leading figures.
Those statistics underline the winger’s attacking instincts and ability to progress the ball. The main uncertainty is whether Yildiz wants to move to England, while Juventus will also be reluctant to sell. Arsenal’s financial power, however, could give them a chance of making the deal happen.
