Juventus tell Arsenal 'offer whatever you like' — Yildiz is not for sale

Juventus have emphatically closed the door on Arsenal’s interest in Kenan Yildiz, with manager Luciano Spalletti declaring the club will not entertain any offer for the 21-year-old Turkish forward, no matter the sum involved.

Arsenal made an initial enquiry for Yildiz earlier this summer, only to be rebuffed. Spalletti has now gone further, issuing a public statement that leaves no room for negotiation. “I am perfectly relaxed, because dealing with Yildiz is easy for me,” the Juventus boss said. “They can offer whatever they like — I want Yildiz here and will always put him on the field. He’s a perfect lad to talk to, he’s mature, and knows he doesn’t need to rush anything.”

Spalletti added that Yildiz’s future lies in Turin, not in chasing a big-money exit. “His future is already important staying at Juventus, not because there are other clubs who want to spend €100m for him. We are all convinced that we can show the total potential of Kenan, and he is a potential phenomenon of football.”

Yildiz signed a contract extension with Juventus in February that runs until 2030, giving the club considerable leverage. The forward scored 11 goals in 47 appearances last season and was named Serie A’s Rising Star of the Season. He joined Juventus on a free transfer from Bayern Munich’s academy in 2022 and has developed steadily into one of European football’s most coveted young talents.

The blow for Arsenal comes after their pursuit of Vinicius Junior also ended without success. The Brazilian winger had been identified as a primary target earlier in the window, with any deal set to be the largest in the club’s history, but he ultimately signed a new contract to remain at Real Madrid.

Arsenal have not been idle in the transfer market, bringing in Greek winger Christos Tzolis from Club Brugge, who impressed in the side’s pre-season win over Coventry. Manager Mikel Arteta already has one of the Premier League’s deepest squads at his disposal, with Gabriel Martinelli among those left out of a recent fixture despite being a regular starter in previous campaigns.