Arsenal contact PSG teenager Mbemba on free transfer with Saliba blueprint in mind

Arsenal have approached Paris Saint-Germain teenager Emmanuel Mbemba over a free transfer this summer, with the 18-year-old’s contract at the French club set to expire at the end of June, according to the BBC.

The Gunners have made contact with Mbemba’s representatives and presented a long-term plan for his development, drawing a direct comparison to William Saliba’s journey from Saint-Etienne to becoming a cornerstone of Mikel Arteta’s defence. Mbemba is reported to favour a move to Arsenal, attracted by the stability and success the club have built under Arteta over the past six years.

Should a deal be agreed, Mbemba would head out on a European loan until January 2027, giving the France youth international time to secure a work permit to play in England. Training compensation for the move is expected to be just over £150,000.

Although Mbemba has operated primarily as a centre-back for PSG’s Under-19s this season — making 27 appearances and scoring twice — Arsenal view him as a long-term option at left-back, with the club identifying him as an eventual successor to Riccardo Calafiori and Piero Hincapie in that position.

The parallel with Saliba is a deliberate one. The Frenchman joined Arsenal for £27 million in 2019 and spent three seasons on loan at Saint-Etienne, Nice, and Marseille before returning to become a first-choice starter alongside Gabriel Magalhães. Saliba has since made 184 appearances for the club and played a key role in Arsenal’s Premier League title win this season.

Mbemba was part of the PSG Under-19 side that reached the semi-finals of the UEFA Youth League before losing to Real Madrid, and PSG have offered him a new contract — though he remains open to leaving.

Arsenal are expected to be active throughout the summer window following their title triumph, with Sandro Tonali, Eli Junior Kroupi, and Julián Álvarez among the names linked with moves to the Emirates Stadium.