Arsenal weigh €71m move for Bayer Leverkusen’s Ibrahim Maza

Arsenal are preparing to accelerate their pursuit of Bayer Leverkusen and Algeria attacking midfielder Ibrahim Maza, with the 20-year-old valued at about €71m.

According to TEAMtalk, Arsenal are ready to step up their interest in Maza, who has attracted close attention from a number of Premier League clubs. Tottenham are monitoring the situation, while Chelsea, Manchester City and Aston Villa are also following the Algeria international.

The growing interest could make Maza one of the most sought-after players in the Premier League market for 2027. Bayer Leverkusen are under no immediate financial pressure to sell and are understood to have set an asking price of approximately €71m, reflecting both the midfielder’s potential and the competition for his signature.

Maza has made a strong start to the 2026-27 season, recording one goal and one assist in the Bundesliga for Leverkusen. He also made a significant contribution for Algeria in their 3-1 victory over Zambia in Africa Cup of Nations qualifying.

After Zambia had equalised, Maza restored Algeria’s lead with a goal before setting up the decisive third goal with a backheel assist. The result secured qualification for the Fennecs.

His progress has continued to reinforce the reputation he developed during his early professional career. Toni Leistner, Maza’s former team-mate at Hertha Berlin, previously described him as a “real talent”.

Maza’s ability to operate between the lines, create opportunities and finish attacks is thought to make him an appealing medium-term option for Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta. However, committing close to €71m to a player who remains in development would require careful consideration.

Arsenal already have a well-stocked midfield, meaning the club would need to assess how Maza fits into its existing options before making a substantial investment.

The presence of Tottenham and the other interested clubs could increase both the complexity and the cost of any deal if Arsenal delay making a formal offer.