Alex Baena Arsenal
Arsenal are keeping a close watch on Atletico Madrid winger Alex Baena, but a January deal looks off the table, and any move next summer would cost at least €80m (£67m).
According to TEAMtalk, Arsenal have followed the 25-year-old’s rise at Atletico closely, and Mikel Arteta is weighing up a bigger push for him in 2027. Heavy competition and Atletico’s refusal to sell mid-season have put any hopes of a winter raid on hold.
It isn’t a new interest either. The Gunners have liked Baena since his Villarreal days, and they see the Spain international as a versatile option who would add depth across the front line.
Why does Arteta want another left-sided attacker?
The answer lies in the summer business. Arsenal let two left-sided options, Gabriel Martinelli and Leandro Trossard, leave the club and brought in only Christos Tzolis as a replacement.
Eberechi Eze has been tried on that side too, but he hasn’t convinced there, as we explored when comparing his path with Michael Olise’s at Bayern. That leaves Arteta open to adding another high-quality player on the left, a gap even Nigel Winterburn admitted needs filling when he spoke about the wingers Arsenal missed out on.
Alex Baena’s numbers at Atletico Madrid
Baena joined Atletico from Villarreal in the summer of 2025 for €45m and has started this season strongly, with five goals and four assists in 14 appearances. That takes him to 92 goals and assists in 253 games across his career.
He is mainly a left-sided forward, but he can also play centrally or fill in as a makeshift number nine. That flexibility is a big part of his appeal.
Can Arsenal sign him in January?
Almost certainly not. Atletico are very unwilling to sell in the middle of the season and are not expected to listen to offers unless an exceptional bid lands. Baena is part of Diego Simeone’s long-term plans, and with his contract running until 2030, just under four years from now, they hold every card.
A move is seen as far more realistic next summer, and even then it would take a fee well above his current valuation. The figure being mentioned is at least €80m, which is £67m.
Bayern Munich lead a crowded race
Arsenal are far from alone. Bayern Munich are described as seriously interested and have already made initial moves, with several of their attackers injured.
Tottenham have Baena on their list as well, although they would likely put an out-and-out striker first. Manchester City and Newcastle have monitored him in recent months, and so have Aston Villa, where Unai Emery knows the player well from their time together at Villarreal.
Is Alex Baena worth €80m to Arsenal?
On form and versatility, he ticks a lot of boxes. A wide forward who can also play centrally or lead the line is the kind of profile Arteta loves, and it would ease the load on a left flank that has been patched up since the summer.
But €80m is a huge sum for a 25-year-old Atletico have no need to sell, and the queue of clubs only pushes that price up. For January, the smarter route might be the one we looked at with Arsenal’s interest in a €70m Leipzig winger. Baena feels like a summer 2027 story, and whether Arsenal are still at the front of the line by then is the real question.