Waiting for Arsenal? €100m Mikel Arteta favourite says yes to huge deal

8 Sept 2026 20:03 BST | 4 min read

Mikel Arteta, Arsenal, 2026/27 — © IMAGO

Tom Weber | Writer

Make us your Google favourite

Bayer Leverkusen striker Christian Kofane turned down several Premier League approaches this summer after fielding "genuine" interest from Arsenal earlier this year.

Article continues under the video

The Cameroon international enjoyed a breakout season in 2025/26 after joining Leverkusen from Albacete for just €5.25 million last summer. Kofane was initially expected to be sent out on loan, but he impressed so much in pre-season that he was kept around for the campaign.

The 20-year-old would go on to bag seven goals and seriously challenge the vastly more experienced Patrik Schick for the starting No.9 role. He has already scored twice in just 83 minutes this time around, albeit one goal came against third-tier Wiesbaden in the DFB-Pokal.

Current ETV

Christian Kofane

F (C)

Bayer 04

Christian Kofane

F (C)

Bayer 04

ETV Range

€21.4M - €26.2M

Over the course of last season, Kofane began to be increasingly linked with a possible move to the Premier League, and the speculation multiplied after he impressed against Arsenal in the Champions League.

Indeed, it was the Gunners who were among his most notable suitors. In April, Kofane's agent Eric Depolo confirmed: "Arsenal’s interest is genuine. The manager likes him very much. There is contact between me and Arsenal."

Is Kofane waiting for Arsenal?

"He is a €100 million player," Depolo added. "With Kofane, Arsenal will have a top striker for the next 10 years." Of course, the youngster didn't actually end up in North London.

He is still at Leverkusen, and he might remain there for a while longer. According to BILD, the Bundesliga outfit are set to hand the Cameroon international an improved contract to reward him for his impressive first season at the club.

The 20-year-old has seemingly approved the decision, as he is said to be "close" to signing a lucrative extension. Interestingly, it is claimed that Kofane turned down several Premier League offers this summer.

Aston Villa, Everton and Newcastle all approached him at one point during the transfer window and were ready to pay €50m, but Kofane rebuffed their proposals. It may not be far-fetched to suggest that Arsenal's interest had something to do with this.

The Gunners may have told him to stay in Germany for another year to see if he can develop as expected. Leverkusen are determined to make Kofane their next €100m player. Spending that much after just one season would have been a major gamble by Arsenal.

It is not unusual for suitors to tell players whom they know are keen to join to wait for a future window. Mikel Arteta allegedly did so when Liverpool attempted to sign Martin Zubimendi from Real Sociedad in 2024, while the Reds reportedly said the same to AS Monaco midfielder Lamine Camara this summer.

Kofane's new contract will not contain a release clause, which will leave Leverkusen in a strong position to demand a significant premium for the striker. If he were to indeed move for €100m in the future, it would represent an eye-watering profit of just under €95m.

Arsenal, of course, could be in the market for a centre-forward in 2027 amid Viktor Gyokeres' uncertain future. The Gunners were already prepared to sacrifice him this year, so he could become one of the protagonists of the next summer window.