Arsenal have been handed a timely transfer boost as Roma are reportedly prepared to sell Evan N’Dicka this summer to ease Financial Fair Play pressures.
The Gunners had previously enquired about the Ivorian centre-back, aiming to add depth and competition to their defensive ranks alongside William Saliba and Gabriel Magalhaes. N’Dicka, 25, is coming off an impressive Serie A season where he played every single minute of Roma’s league campaign — one of only two outfield players to achieve that feat.
Initially, Roma had placed N’Dicka among a group of ‘untouchable’ players not up for sale, but circumstances have quickly changed. According to Corriere dello Sport, the Italian club is now urgently seeking a sale to balance their books, especially after the collapse of Angelino’s proposed move to Al-Hilal and underwhelming returns from recent sales.
Despite raising €30m from the exits of Enzo Le Fee and Samuel Dahl, and the expected departure of Nicola Zalewski, Roma still face a financial shortfall. With time running out to meet FFP compliance, N’Dicka’s exit is now seen as a “painful but understandable” solution.
The Serie A side is reportedly hoping to attract interest from Premier League clubs, which could reignite Arsenal’s pursuit of the Ivorian international. Paris Saint-Germain and Newcastle have also shown interest, but the Gunners could now be well-positioned to strike a deal.
N’Dicka, named Ivory Coast’s Player of the Year this week, has three years remaining on his contract, which runs until June 2028. Having joined Roma on a free transfer from Eintracht Frankfurt in 2023, any transfer would represent pure profit for the Italian club.
Speaking to L’Equipe last month, the defender acknowledged the transfer speculation but emphasized his commitment to Roma. “I’m not pretending that I don’t see the rumours,” he said. “But I have respect in Rome and I respect them. I have three years remaining on my contract. We will see what happens later.”
With Roma actively exploring the English market, Arsenal could take advantage of the situation to secure a deal for a proven and durable defensive addition.