Arsenal and Chelsea have reportedly had their transfer bids rejected for Paris Saint-Germain’s dynamic winger Bradley Barcola. The 22-year-old was instrumental in PSG’s treble-winning 2024–25 season, racking up an impressive 21 goals and 20 assists in 60 appearances across all competitions.
Despite playing mostly a backup role in PSG’s Champions League final triumph over Inter Milan, Barcola’s value remains high in the eyes of manager Luis Enrique. He was left on the bench as Desire Doue, Khvicha Kvaratskhelia, and Ousmane Dembele were preferred, sparking rumours that the Frenchman might consider a move away to secure more consistent playing time.
According to reports from L’Équipe, both Arsenal and Chelsea made approaches to secure Barcola’s services, only to be swiftly turned down by PSG. German champions Bayern Munich also reportedly expressed interest but were met with the same firm stance from the Ligue 1 outfit.
Transfer expert Fabrizio Romano echoed the sentiment, stating that Barcola remains in Luis Enrique’s long-term plans and will not be sold this summer. The 22-year-old remains under contract with PSG until 2028, giving the club complete control over his immediate future.
For Arsenal, the setback means further complications in their hunt for attacking reinforcements. With Nico Williams leaning toward Barcelona and Real Madrid’s Rodrygo a long shot, Mikel Arteta may need to recalibrate his plans quickly.
Chelsea, meanwhile, are still hopeful of landing Borussia Dortmund’s Jamie Gittens, who is believed to favour a move to Stamford Bridge. However, Bayern Munich could once again be a stumbling block in that pursuit as well. Barcola may not be on the move this summer, but his name is clearly one to watch as top European clubs continue circling in future windows.