Arsenal have called AFC Bournemouth over Junior Kroupi, with the player on the Gunners’ transfer shortlist this summer.
Sami Mokbel reports for the BBC that Junior Kroupi is on Arsenal’s summer shortlist for a forward signing, and it’s a deal the club have explored, but he’s expected to cost more than £80m.
Fabrizio Romano adds that Arsenal have called to make enquiries over Kroupi’s situation, though they aren’t the only ones. Manchester City have also made contact, and others are interested as well, including Paris Saint-Germain and potentially Liverpool.
Yet this information all comes against a backdrop of recent reports that Bournemouth aren’t interested in selling Kroupi this summer.
Mark Douglas of The i Paper reported in May that Manchester City, Arsenal, Liverpool, and Manchester United were all interested in the young Bournemouth forward, but added that the player is not for sale at any price this summer.
Bournemouth are reportedly bullish about their chances of retaining their key players this summer, with no release clause in Kroupi’s deal.
Douglas claimed that the earliest that a transfer would be considered is 2027, and the club would then want £100m or more. There is reported bemusement at claims the player is valued at £60m, and Kroupi is understood to be happy and settled where he is.
Kroupi has already earned himself somewhat of a cult-hero status at Arsenal, having scored the goal against Manchester City that ultimately won the Gunners the Premier League title on May 19th, 2026.
The 19-year-old also scored home and away against Arsenal, and he racked up 13 goals in 35 games overall in 2025/26, his first season in the Premier League.
Kroupi has made somewhat of a habit of scoring against big-six sides, adding to his three goals against Arsenal and City with another three against Manchester United and Tottenham Hotspur.
He didn’t face Chelsea in 2025/26 and only started one of their two Liverpool games, or he may well have scored against them too.
The teenager had been playing for FC Lorient in Ligue 2 last season, scoring 23 goals in 32 games to earn his move to England, and he’s stepped up well so far.
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