Arsenal have stepped up their pursuit of Brentford winger Bryan Mbeumo after making contact with the club this week. Keen to boost his attacking options for the 2025/26 campaign, the Gunners see Mbeumo as an adaptable forward who can shine in Mikel Arteta’s free-scoring forward line. The Cameroonian international is 25 and fits the age profile Arsenal have targeted in recent windows — players approaching their prime and who have experience in the Premier League.
No official bid has been tabled as of yet but sources close to the situation have claimed that Arsenal are “actively monitoring” Mbeumo’s situation. Brentford, meanwhile, are steeling themselves for summer interest, not least as the winger moves into the final two years of his contract. Brentford are willing to sell for £40–45 million but want to keep him unless they receive an offer in that range.
🚨Arsenal are in talks over the signing of Bryan Mbeumo this summer.
Talks are progressing but Arsenal are not the only club in for him.
[@Teamnewsandtix] pic.twitter.com/DJS2MgnxGh
Mbeumo had a stop-and-start season in 2024/25 but still added 9 goal contributions in 20 league games. He was sorely missed during Brentford’s midseason woes. Now back to full fitness, Mbeumo has reportedly caught the eye of the not only the Gunners but also a number of sides in Ligue 1 and the Bundesliga. They consider themselves the frontrunners in the race to sign him thanks to their status as a Champions League club next season and the added pull of playing under Arteta.
With both Reiss Nelson and Emile Smith Rowe likely to find themselves for sale this summer, Arsenal need another right-side attacker. Mbeumo, who can also play centrally or on the left, will provide a tactical versatility that will suit Arteta’s rotation-heavy system for next season.
Bryan Mbeumo has been a pivotal performer for Brentford since he made the switch from Troyes in 2019. He carved a niche for himself as a direct dribbler with a low centre of gravity with intelligent off-the-ball movement as one of the most underrated wingers in the Premier League. Mbeumo is a mix of being creative as well as hard working — which Mikel Arteta values highly in his system.
Last season, 2023/24, he hit double figures for goals and assists in all competitions, with Ivan Toney flourishing alongside him in Brentford’s two-man strikeforce. He is understood to have missed part of the current campaign with an ankle injury, but returned from that to help Brentford avoid the drop. His pace, running at defenders and the quality of his low crosses will be an added threat to Arsenal’s attack.
✨️ Bryan Mbeumo = Premier League Fans Team of the Season pic.twitter.com/USKJMq8U2n
Arteta has been hoping to lessen the team’s reliance on Bukayo Saka after the teenager appeared in most matches in domestic and European football this season. Mbeumo would also be a decent option on the right and would create competition for places — you would want that to keep players on their toes.
Furthermore, with Mbeumo having an established international pedigree with Cameroon and due to have a steady season playing in the Premier League – he will be a less of a risk than a player coming from Europe. Given Arsenal are keen on a new central midfielder and left-back as well, it might make sense to have someone like Mbeumo at a decent price as the quality vs financial prudence trade-off will be a good one.
Arsenal’s links with Bryan Mbeumo somehow look like a calculated move rather than a headline-grabbing gamble. It’s evident the club are making an effort to strengthen in important areas, while still not wanting to rock the boat in the already strong squad they possess. He’s not merely a proven Premier League winger — he’s a plug-and-play guy who could fit right in when called upon.
He’s a good presser, compact in his football and can operate in several attacking positions – he’s the perfect fit for Arteta. Importantly, this is not a panic buy. It’s a clever target in line with Arsenal’s project: signing players in their prime who can make contributions and lift standards in the squad right away.
If Arsenal can agree on a price close to what Brentford demands, this could quietly become one of their most effective signings this summer.
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