An Arsenal Canada Overview Of The 2025/26 Summer Transfer Window So Far. And What Could Still Happen.
Summer is in full swing with our first pre-season game for the men’s team commencing on July 23rd in Singapore. With the transfer window well and truly open, new Arsenal Sporting Director Andrea Berta isn’t wasting any time doing business. Deals have been done, and there is still business to be concluded - with plenty of speculation and imminent arrivals into the club.
Let’s break down what’s been done so far, what looks to be happening imminently, and other speculation that’s been circulating the transfer rumour treadmill so far this summer.
What’s been done so far:
Olivia Smith
There’s only one place to start and it’s with the Arsenal women’s team and Canada’s very own Olivia Smith. Reports from The Guardian have emerged this week that Arsenal have had a £1m bid accepted by Liverpool for the forward, making the 20-year-old Toronto-born player the most expensive signing in Woman’s football. A historic moment. She scored 7 goals for Liverpool last season, and has 4 goals for the Canadian WNT in 19 appearances. After winning the Champions League last season this demonstrates an ambition from the club to keep pushing for more titles and hopefully wrap up the WSL next season.
Photo via Getty Images
Chloe Kelly
A quick word elsewhere on the women’s team - Chloe Kelly has come back to the club on a permanent basis. I mean, it would have been rude not to after her legendary appearance at The Tollington during the Champions League celebrations! In all seriousness, the move makes a lot of sense for both club and player after a successful loan spell with us last season from Manchester City. She started her career wearing the red and white of Arsenal so it only feels right to bring the player back. Welcome home Chloe Kelly.
photo via arsenal.com
Not too much to report on elsewhere with the women’s team, likely due to the Euro’s currently taking place. We have already signed left-back Taylor Hinds on a free as well as offering U’18’s striker Jessie Gale a professional contract. There will be more to report on the transfer front once the summer tournament has concluded, as well as more in-depth focus on the team closer to the start of the season.
Martin Zubimendi
Onto the Arsenal men’s team. It feels like it’s taken an eternity to complete (due to how early this became public knowledge) but we’ve finally got our man pictured at the top of the article.
If he’s as cool and slick with his passing as the signing announcement video released by the club (if you haven't seen it I strongly encourage you to do so) then we’re in for a treat. He brings a calmness in possession and an excellent ability to read the game and know exactly where to be. Furthermore, he averaged the second most forward midfield-splitting passes in La Liga last season, so should provide a metronomic quality to keep us ticking over when in possession whilst taking a bit of pressure off our defence to play forward. Additionally, I think his presence in front of the back four will allow Rice to roam forward more. On paper he’s exactly what we’ve been looking for in the number 6 midfield role and, hopefully, worth every penny of the £60m price tag.
Kepa Arrizabalaga
The former Chelsea goalkeeper comes in as backup to Raya for £5m. There isn’t too much to say on this one, other than it appears to be a great bit of business. With proven Premier League experience - and coming off the back of a great season on loan at Bournemouth - he will bring in proven pedigree into the role. Now that we have Kepa it will enable Raya to have a bit of rest here and there, most likely in the domestic cups, unlike last season where he played all but two games the whole season.
Christian Norgaard
Photo via bbc sport
Similarly to Kepa, the Danish defensive midfielder is one that came out of left field but certainly a welcome addition nonetheless. The reported fee is around the £12m mark depending on the source (£10m plus £2m in add-ons). We’ve offered a two-year contract, with the option to extend for a further 12 months. An out-and-out DM he will bring nous and experience to the squad, likely to play a Jorginho-esque role but with more minutes on the pitch, and a more defensive bite to his game. I like this signing and I like the efficiency in getting it done as well.
Noni Madueke
Not sure if this one falls into the imminent or done deals category. Regardless, after some speculation it appears as if a concrete bid of £52m (£48m plus £4m in add-ons) has been submitted and accepted for the 23-year-old England International. Personal terms were agreed a while ago and he will become a Gunner. Out of all the players mentioned in this article, this has by far split opinions the most. Whilst we need greater attacking depth, we have also been linked with Eze who could do a job covering two positions (more on that below) which seems to have piqued enthusiasm amongst fans more than the Madueke deal. However, if reports are to be believed then this is a player who Arteta has specifically earmarked and is keen to bring into the club. He offers a direct running threat both one-on-one with defenders and in-behind defences. Whilst opinions are divided from fans on the signing - likely due to Chelsea signing fatigue - if it turns out to be a success then we’ll have forgotten we even debated this in the first place.
Imminent Arrivals:
Victor Gykoroes
There is a strong chance that by the time this is written and published Arsenal have agreed a deal with Sporting Lisbon to bring the centre-forward to the club. As of right now nothing has been finalised, but it’s a case of when-not-if.
After months of speculation around who the club would go for between Gykoeres and Sesko as our much needed centre-forward target, it looks as if Berta has gone for the Swedish striker for £63.5m. Nobody can deny his stats are beyond impressive since joining the Portuguese champions - 97 goals in 102 matches. The question though, will be how he fares in the Premier League. He looks hungry for it and certainly keen to come to North London and prove himself on the biggest stage. We all know Arsenal need to bring in top-class striking reinforcement, and it looks as if the club are finally willing to get this done and over the line.
Photo via reuters/bbc sport
Christhian Mosquera
It wouldn’t be a transfer window without the club bringing in at least one defender. With the sad news of Tomiyasu moving on by mutual agreement, it’s not surprising then that the club are looking to bring in a player who can bolster defensive options whilst happy to be the understudy to Saliba, Gabriel, as well as Kiwior, with the centre-back the pecking order well and truly established. The last word on this was that an initial bid in the region of £20m had been rejected by Valencia. However, news has emerged that personal terms with the player have been agreed - pointing all signs in the direction of this becoming a done deal once a fee has been agreed between the two clubs.
Speculative Signings:
Eberechi Eze
Eyes lit up amongst the fan base when news quickly emerged in recent weeks that we were interested in the Crystal-Palace attacking midfielder, especially with a free rumoured to be between £50 - £60m and paid in installments. If so, this would be a savvy bit of business when you consider the English player tax that comes with signing English Premier League talent. He’s a player that can play both the attacking central midfield position, or on the wing, so would bring much needed depth within the squad alongside proven quality. This might be one we come back to towards the end of the window. Watch this space.
Photo via Football London/Getty images
About the Author
Oliver Reeves is a marketing volunteer and a contributor to Arsenal Canada. This Blog was written for Arsenal Canada as an opinion blog feature. It is not written by and does not necessarily reflect the views, and members (unless otherwise stated in the article), of Arsenal Canada. Check out out rest of the Arsenal Canada Volunteer team here.