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- 1 hours ago
€60m Barcelona star responds to Arsenal approach
Tom Weber
- Updated: 6 Apr 2026 16:12 BST
- 4 min read
News
Arsenal have been rebuffed by Barcelona star Dani Olmo, according to Spanish media.
The 27-year-old hasn't had an easy time of it since returning to boyhood club Barcelona in 2024. Signed for a hefty €55 million from RB Leipzig, it was a deal that raised eyebrows.
Not only was there no clear need for Olmo at Barcelona, but the cost of the operation and the attacking midfielder's injury record made it a bizarre decision. It felt like an unnecessary transfer, even if the Spain international is undoubtedly a brilliant player on his day.
Current ETV
Dani Olmo
M, AM (C)
Barcelona
Dani Olmo
M, AM (C)
Barcelona
ETV Range
€50M - €61.2M
The worries initially seemed justified, too. Given Barcelona's financial troubles, it looked as though the deal would backfire when the Catalans struggled to register Olmo and had to fight tooth and nail against LaLiga and president Javier Tebas to be able to use the attacker.
They ultimately succeeded, though Olmo hasn't always been a guaranteed starter under Hansi Flick. This season, the 27-year-old has played most of his LaLiga games from the beginning, but he has only started twice in the Champions League.
Olmo rejected lucrative approaches
According to Sport, numerous clubs have been attentive to Olmo's situation at Barcelona in recent months, and some even felt emboldened to make an approach for him.
The Spanish publication asserts that Saudi side Al-Qadsiah, managed by Brendan Rodgers, made a lucrative offer for the Blaugrana star in February. €60m was put on the table for Barcelona and a four-year contract, worth €40m, for Olmo.
Unlike other Saudi sides, Al-Qadsiah are not constrained by the centrally-allocated budget. They are backed by Aramco and would have been able to fund a big-money mid-season move.
However, the player rejected the transfer because he wanted to stay at Barcelona. His sole focus is on succeeding with his formative club, even if he is not always Flick's first choice.
That is why he also rebuffed an approach from Arsenal, though it is not exactly clear when the Gunners showed their interest in him. The outlet only states that it came "when he wasn't getting much playing time under Flick."
Heading into the summer, his stance has not changed.
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