Mikel Arteta is targeting a key addition to his Arsenal squad and the move has moved a step closer thanks to another key transfer decision being approved
16:54, 26 Jun 2025Updated 16:57, 26 Jun 2025
Mikel Arteta has plenty to smile about this summer transfer window
Mikel Arteta has plenty to smile about this summer transfer window
Arsenal's chase of Brentford captain Christian Norgaard has been given a big boost as the Bees have agreed to sign 20-year-old Feyenoord attacking midfielder Antoni Milambo.
The summer transfer of Milambo, anticipated to be around an initial £17million plus £4.25m in add-ons, has been in the pipeline at the Bees for roughly two months. Negotiations kicked off during former manager Thomas Frank's final weeks at the helm - with the addition to Brentford's midfield department now helping to pave the way for the departure of another member of the unit to the Gunners.
Frank personally greenlit Milambo's signing but the west London club have had to bide their time throughout the process as the highly-touted Dutch youngster was away at the U21 European Championships in Slovakia with Oranje. Milambo featured in Wednesday's 2-1 semi-final loss to England in Bratislava and is now set to seal his move to the Gtech Community Stadium as he gears up for a fresh start in the Premier League.
Insiders close to Milambo reckon Brentford are seen as the ideal club for his growth after the Bees laid out their project in detail towards the end of the 2024-25 season, winning over the player during preliminary talks. A verbal agreement on personal terms has been settled for over a month, even though Milambo hinted in an interview with ESPN NL that he might still stay put at De Kuip.
Milambo's impending arrival is a massive lift for Brentford, especially after they begrudgingly agreed to let club skipper Norgaard move to Arsenal after Mikel Arteta identified him as a successor to Thomas Partey.
Christian Norgaard of Brentford during the Premier League match between Brentford FC and Chelsea FC at Gtech Community Stadium on April 6, 2025 in Brentford, England.
Christian Norgaard is keen on a move to Arsenal(Image: Mark Leech/Offside/Offside via Getty Images)
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The Gunners sprung a surprise bid for the 31-year-old on Wednesday morning, who had only inked a fresh two-year Bees contract in March, and by day's end, both clubs had settled on a deal estimated at £10m plus add-ons.
One source has told Sky Sports News those add-ons amount to £5m if they are all met, taking the total value of the deal to a possible £15m.
There is still some further work to do to sign the Danish international but everything is pointing towards a conclusion in the coming days.
Brentford have given Norgaard the green light to head off for his Arsenal medical, just months after he turned down several offers from abroad to leave the Gtech on a freebie and pocket a bigger wage packet.
Antoni Milambo of Feyenoord
Antoni Milambo of Feyenoord(Image: Getty Images)
Milambo made history as Feyenoord's youngest debutant at 16 years and 131 days old in August 2021, under the guidance of Liverpool boss Arne Slot, clocking up 29 Eredivisie matches last season and netting three goals.
The Dutch U21 whizz-kid also grabbed headlines earlier in the season when he bagged a hat-trick in the Champions League, including a cracking double against Benfica.
He'll be joining forces with fellow countryman Sepp van den Berg in London and is poised to be the first signing of the Keith Andrews era, although Brentford have yet to officially announce the Irishman's appointment.
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Milambo isn't seen as a straight swap for Norgaard, despite being able to slot into a No. 8 or No.10 role.
In Rotterdam, there's a bit of a grumble about losing one of the club's brightest prospects.
However, there's also some satisfaction regarding the final fee given the player only has two years left on his current contract, reports the Mirror.