PSG
Image credit: Getty Images
Arsenal have made an approach for Paris Saint-Germain’s highly rated teenage midfielder Warren Zaire-Emery as part of their summer midfield rebuild, according to transfer expert Graeme Bailey viaTBR Football.
With Mikel Arteta and sporting director Andrea Berta steering the club’s recruitment strategy, the Gunners are targeting reinforcements in central midfield ahead of the 2025/26 season. However, PSG have swiftly rejected any possibility of parting with their prized academy graduate.
Zaire-Emery, 19, has been a mainstay in French football’s elite ranks since making his PSG debut at just 16 in August 2022, becoming the club’s youngest-ever first-team player. He has since amassed 124 senior appearances, scoring eight goals and providing nine assists. His maturity and technical quality have earned widespread acclaim including high praise from Arsenal icons Arsène Wenger and Thierry Henry.
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Wenger previously likened the French international to a hybrid of Paul Pogba, N’Golo Kanté, and Patrick Vieira, citing his blend of strength, composure, and vision. Henry, meanwhile, described Zaire-Emery as a “mature player with no limits” following a standout Champions League display against Newcastle in 2023.
Arsenal - Warren Zaire-Emery
Warren Zaire-Emery (Image credit: Getty Images)
Arsenal’s interest comes amid significant midfield changes in North London. Thomas Partey is entering the final year of his contract, while Jorginho has already joined Brazilian side Flamengo on a free transfer. Although the Gunners have secured the £55 million signing of Martin Zubimendi from Real Sociedad, Arteta is keen to bring in another midfielder to complement Declan Rice and Martin Ødegaard.
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Zaire-Emery, who is comfortable playing both as a defensive midfielder and as a box-to-box option, is seen as an ideal fit for Arteta’s tactical system. Despite limited starts in Ligue 1 last season, featuring behind Vitinha, João Neves, and Fabián Ruiz in the midfield hierarchy, his underlying stats show excellence in ball progression, spatial awareness, and defensive coverage.
Nevertheless, PSG remain adamant that Zaire-Emery is not for sale. The French champions view him as central to their long-term plans, even if he has played a reduced role under Luis Enrique. The teenager is under contract at the Parc des Princes until 2029 and reportedly earns around £740,000 gross per month. Transfermarkt values him at £47 million, though PSG are believed to rate him closer to £85 million.
While Chelsea, Liverpool, Barcelona, and Bayern Munich have all tracked the player, Arsenal are currently the only club to have made a formal enquiry this summer. The Gunners have maintained interest in Zaire-Emery since January 2023, underlining their admiration for what some scouts consider a “generational talent.”
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