Arsenal Target Joaquin Seys as Premier League Battle Heats Up
Arsenal are preparing another move on Club Brugge, and this one could ignite a full-scale Premier League battle.
Barely weeks after securing winger Christos Tzolis from the Belgian side, Mikel Arteta’s recruitment team have turned their attention to Joaquin Seys, the £30m-rated defender who has rapidly climbed towards the top of several clubs’ shortlists.
Arteta wants a different profile at full-back as he fine-tunes his squad for a Premier League title defence. Seys, a Belgian international who caught the eye at this summer’s World Cup, fits the brief: young, athletic, and comfortable operating high up the pitch. Arsenal have scouted him extensively, with a detailed dossier already on the manager’s desk.
They are not alone.
A full-back arms race
Manchester United, still wrestling with long-standing issues at full-back, have also moved into position. An initial approach for Lewis Hall was knocked back by Newcastle United, who made it clear their left-back is not for sale. That setback pushed United towards Seys as an alternative, and the Old Trafford hierarchy are said to be unfazed by Brugge’s £30m valuation.
United’s need is urgent. With Luke Shaw’s future as a long-term, week-in-week-out starter under scrutiny and the club preparing for a return to the Champions League, the search for a reliable left-sided defender has become a priority.
Newcastle, despite their stance on Hall, are also credited with interest in Seys, underlining how highly regarded the 22-year-old has become across Europe.
Arsenal’s calculated push
Inside Arsenal, the approach is more deliberate than desperate. Arteta has been clear: he will only move if the player is the right fit.
“Well, that's what we're trying to do,” he told reporters when asked about further signings. “If we have the right player in the market to make us much better. We are very looking forward to that.”
Those words frame Arsenal’s pursuit of Seys. The club have tracked him closely, sending scouts on repeated missions to Belgium to watch him in different conditions and competitions. The feedback has been strong enough to justify serious consideration, even with Brugge under no pressure to sell.
Seys still has three years left on his current deal, giving the Belgian club firm control over his future and the freedom to demand a premium fee.
Villa, Benfica and Porto join the chase
The contest does not stop with England’s traditional heavyweights. Aston Villa are also in the frame as Unai Emery reshapes his back line.
Lucas Digne’s return to PSG has left a clear gap at left-back in Emery’s squad, and Villa have been scanning the market for a long-term replacement. Seys’ mix of defensive discipline and attacking drive makes him an obvious candidate for a side that has grown used to building from deep and pushing full-backs high.
On the continent, Benfica and Porto are monitoring developments. Both Portuguese giants have a track record of developing and selling on emerging talents, and Seys would fit neatly into that model.
A test of intent
For now, Brugge hold the strongest hand. A World Cup on his CV, three years left on his contract, and a queue of suitors from England and Portugal ensure they can wait for the right offer.
For Arsenal, this is another test of how aggressively they are prepared to act in a market where every top club is chasing the same small pool of elite full-backs. For United, it is about finally solving a problem area that has lingered for years.
One defender. A £30m price tag. And a cluster of clubs who all believe Joaquin Seys might be the piece that tilts their season in the right direction.
