Arsenal have emerged as strong contenders to sign Bayer Leverkusen forward Christian Kofane, according to the 20-year-old's agent, who confirmed that discussions between the two clubs have already taken place.
Eric Depolo, who represents the Cameroon international, told the Daily Arsenal website that the north London club's interest in his client is authentic and that manager Mikel Arteta holds him in high regard. "Yes, Arsenal's interest is genuine," Depolo said. "The manager likes him very much."
Kofane enjoyed a productive debut season in the Bundesliga after joining Leverkusen from Spanish second-tier side Albacete a year ago. He made 44 appearances for the German outfit last term, scoring seven goals, and featured in both legs of Leverkusen's Champions League last-16 tie against Arsenal. The forward also impressed on the international stage, netting twice for Cameroon at the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations in Morocco.
Depolo suggested several factors could make Arsenal an attractive destination for his client, pointing to shared language and cultural ties within the club. "I think it is too early to say (Kofane's next destination), but due to the fact that the player speaks Spanish, like Mikel Arteta, and that William Saliba is originally from Cameroon, I would say Arsenal are in pole position," he explained. He also revealed ongoing dialogue between himself and the Gunners, though he cautioned that any transfer business is likely to accelerate only once Arsenal's Premier League campaign reaches a certain stage. "There is contact between me and Arsenal. But their focus right now is to win the league. From there everything will start moving," the agent added.
For his part, Kofane has previously expressed openness to a move to England's top flight. Speaking to German outlet Kicker, the striker acknowledged the appeal of the Premier League while stressing his commitment to his current club. "I can certainly imagine it, yes. It's one of the best leagues in the world," he said. "But I want to take it step by step. I'm young and still have big plans with Bayer Leverkusen. Bayer Leverkusen a great club that has given me a great opportunity and a lot of confidence. I feel very comfortable here."
The potential pursuit of Kofane comes amid a busy summer for Arsenal, who have already spent more than £100 million on new recruits, bringing in Club Brugge winger Christos Tzolis and Newcastle United captain Bruno Guimaraes. Arteta confirmed this week that further signings remain on the agenda as the club looks to build a squad capable of competing on multiple fronts. Asked whether fans should expect additional arrivals, the Spanish coach responded, "That's what we're trying to do. If we have the right player in the market to make us much better, we are very looking forward to that."
However, given the scale of spending already undertaken this window, Arsenal may need to offload players before pursuing further additions. Academy product and England international Myles Lewis-Skelly has reportedly been made available to both Chelsea and Manchester United, following a season in which he struggled to secure consistent playing time.
Whether Kofane's move to the Emirates Stadium materializes remains to be seen, but with contact already established between his representatives and the club, Arsenal appear well-placed to capitalize should the striker decide his future lies away from the BayArena.
Based on reporting from The Independent.