Christian Kofane to Arsenal in doubt as Everton push hard for Leverkusen striker
Christian Kofane to Arsenal: Arsenal‘s interest in Bayer Leverkusen striker Christian Kofane is well-documented. But the north London side now face a genuine threat of losing the 19-year-old to a Premier League rival. According to Daily Arsenal journalist David Schill, Arsenal remain in regular contact with Kofane’s camp. The player’s agent, however, is actively holding discussions with Everton over a potential switch to Merseyside. That is a massive development. It alters the entire tone of this transfer saga. (Via GMS)
How did the interest begin?
Schill broke the news on 9 July 2026. He reports that Everton have suddenly vaulted into pole position to secure Kofane’s signature this summer. It is quite the turn of events. Just weeks ago, the Gunners looked like nailed-on frontrunners.
Speculation linking the Cameroonian teenager with Arsenal first surfaced back in March. Mikel Arteta’s side had just knocked Leverkusen out across two legs in the Champions League round of 16. Kofane caught the eye repeatedly during those times. He gave William Saliba an incredibly uncomfortable evening on both occasions. Arteta noticed. Sporting director Andrea Berta certainly noticed too. The club’s sporting chief is intent on adding another striker to the squad. Kofane comes in as someone to provide immediate competition for Viktor Gyokeres and Kai Havertz heading into the 2026/27 campaign.
The youngster’s 2025/26 season numbers tell a straightforward story. Across the Bundesliga and Champions League, Kofane made 40 combined appearances, scoring six goals and contributing five assists. Those returns came largely from a supporting role. He came off the bench on 16 occasions throughout the campaign, which makes his impact all the more striking. Leverkusen paid just €5 million to sign him from Spanish second-division side Albacete last July. Now, they are reportedly demanding in the region of €100 million for his services. The massive valuation shows how quickly his stock has risen.
Kofane’s agent, Eric Depolo, was spotted at Everton’s training ground at Finch Farm on Wednesday. Talks over a potential move took place. The discussions were positive. De Polo even described the project David Moyes is building on Merseyside as “fantastic.”
Arsenal have maintained continuous dialogue with the player’s representatives, but they simply have not matched Everton’s urgency. The Toffees have already submitted a concrete offer in the region of £34 million. It falls well short of Leverkusen’s hefty expectations, obviously, but it signals serious intent.
Read: Done Deal – Arsenal complete summer transfer after talks
Depolo has publicly acknowledged interest from Chelsea, Newcastle, Barcelona, and Bayern Munich. This is not a two-horse race. Far from it. Arsenal’s hesitancy is starting to cost them ground in a transfer that seemed completely wrapped up a month ago. The Gunners cannot afford to let Christian Kofane slip through their fingers without a real fight.
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