Former Arsenal midfielder Matteo Guendouzi may be heading back to the Premier League in a surprise twist, with newly-promoted Sunderland eyeing the Lazio player as a potential midfield reinforcement. The 26-year-old, who once promised to be a future Gunners mainstay, could now be returning to England—this time in Black Cats red and white.
Guendouzi left Arsenal after a high-profile fallout with Mikel Arteta during the Spaniard’s early managerial tenure.
His aggressive altercation with Brighton’s Neal Maupay in June 2020 marked the final straw, and he was exiled from the first team before being loaned to Hertha Berlin and Marseille. He eventually left permanently in 2022.
The French international, now a key figure at Lazio, is reportedly being monitored by Sunderland boss Regis Le Bris, who knows Guendouzi from their shared time at Lorient. Lazio may be forced to offload players due to financial constraints, which could open the door for an unexpected transfer.
Guendouzi’s time at Arsenal was marked by flashes of brilliance and disciplinary struggles. Despite making 82 appearances and showing early promise under Unai Emery, his temperament hindered his progress under Arteta, who sold him for just £9 million.
Sunderland, meanwhile, are rebuilding after selling Jobe Bellingham to Borussia Dortmund. They’ve already targeted Strasbourg’s Habib Diarra, but if the £30.5 million deal proves too steep, Guendouzi could become the centerpiece of their midfield.
If the move materializes, it would mark a dramatic return for Guendouzi—once an Arsenal prodigy, now on the verge of a Premier League comeback with an entirely different club and ambition.Tools