Deal Agreed: Arsenal agree a huge transfer fee to sign a versatile attacker who can player any position on the pitch- He has already signed five-years deal
Arsenal are reportedly keen on signing Barcelona midfielder Marc Casado and are willing to pay £35m for the Spanish youngster.
Spanish outlet Fichajes.net reports that the Gunners are “ready to launch a bid” for Casado, taking advantage of the Catalans’ need to free up salary space and generate revenue. The La Liga giants’ acquisition of Joan Garcia and likely signing of Nico Williams puts pressure on them to balance the books.
Casado was a breakout star in Barca’s team last season, flourishing under new manager Hansi Flick in defensive midfield. The 21-year-old established himself as a starter until Frenkie de Jong returned from injury, and 18-year-old Marc Bernal started shining.
Arsenal Prepare Bid For Casado
Mikel Arteta plans to partner him with Martin Zubimendi
Arsenal are making significant moves this window and are closing in on deals for Brentford’s Christian Norgaard and Real Sociedad’s Martin Zubimendi. The latter was in London this week to finalise a move to the Emirates worth north of £51m, but he might not be the only Spanish arrival.
It’s suggested that Mikel Arteta is pushing for Casado and considering partnering him with Zubimendi in a new-look midfield. Thomas Partey looks set to depart when his contract expires and Jorginho left for Brazilian outfit Flamengo earlier this summer.
Casado hasn’t asked to leave Barca but is aware of limited first-team opportunities heading into next season. The Catalans aren’t ruling out a sale, especially if they receive an offer of around £35m (€40m) for the La Masia academy graduate.
The two-cap Spain international, dubbed “elite”, has three years left on his contract, so there is no pressure on the La Liga champions needing to cash in. He’s also not the only young midfielder on the North Londoners’ wishlist, with reports claiming they are eyeing Corinthians’ Breno Bidon, 19, likened to Barca’s Pedri.
Arsenal are reportedly preparing a **£35 million bid** to sign **Marc Casado** from Barcelona, as Mikel Arteta looks to reshape his midfield ahead of the 2025/26 campaign.
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### 🔎 **Who is Marc Casado?**
* **Age**: 21
* **Position**: Defensive Midfielder
* **Club**: FC Barcelona
* **Status**: Breakout season under Hansi Flick, impressive while Frenkie de Jong was injured
* **Contract**: Until 2028
* **International**: 2 caps for Spain
* **Market Value**: Rising rapidly due to strong performances
Casado is a **La Masia graduate** known for his composure, ball-winning ability, and sharp distribution — often compared to Sergio Busquets for his positional intelligence and control at the base of midfield.
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### 🔁 **Why Arsenal Want Him**
* Arteta reportedly sees Casado as an **ideal long-term partner** for incoming signing **Martin Zubimendi**, with a view to rebuilding Arsenal’s midfield post-Thomas Partey and Jorginho.
* Casado is:
* **Tactically intelligent**
* **Technically sound**
* Able to operate in both single and double pivot systems
* Signing both **Casado and Zubimendi** would give Arsenal a Spanish core similar to Arteta’s original vision of intelligent, press-resistant midfielders.
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### 💰 **Barcelona’s Stance**
* **Open to sale** if bid hits around **£35m (€40m)** due to:
* Financial pressure
* Planned arrivals (Nico Williams, Joan Garcia)
* Midfield depth (De Jong, Pedri, Gavi, Fermin Lopez, Marc Bernal)
* Casado **hasn’t pushed to leave**, but is aware he could fall further down the pecking order
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### 🔄 Arsenal’s Midfield Transition
* **Incomings:**
* **Martin Zubimendi** (close to joining for £51m+)
* **Christian Nørgaard** (expected to offer experience and depth)
* **Casado** (targeted as a high-upside, developmental anchor)
* **Outgoings:**
* **Jorginho** → Flamengo (confirmed)
* **Thomas Partey** → Expected to leave on free transfer this summer
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### 🧨 Other Midfield Interest
* Arsenal are also scouting **Breno Bidon** (19, Corinthians), a Brazilian midfielder likened to **Pedri**, indicating a strong investment in *young, creative, press-resistant midfield talent*.
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### 🧠 Verdict:
Casado could be a **clever, forward-looking signing** for Arsenal — offering a blend of youth, La Liga experience, and tactical flexibility. Pairing him with Zubimendi could give Arteta a long-term Spanish midfield duo capable of controlling games at the highest level.
If Barcelona accept the offer, this may go down as one of the smarter deals of the window, particularly if Casado’s development continues on its current trajectory.
Would you like a projected Arsenal XI if both Casado and Zubimendi sign?
