Premier League champions Arsenal ‘hold strong interest’ in Illan Meslier | OneFootball

Illan Meslier became a free agent today after his Leeds United contract expired, and the goalkeeper has emerged as a surprise target for Premier League champions Arsenal.

According to BBC Sport, Arsenal hold strong interest in the 26-year-old amid uncertainty over current back-up Kepa Arrizabalaga. Mikel Arteta has David Raya as first-choice and could seek extra cover.

Meslier spent 2025/26 as Leeds’ third-choice behind Karl Darlow and Lucas Perri. He did not play a senior game, featuring only a handful of times for the Under-21s. The club had announced his summer exit in advance.

The Frenchman broke through in 2019/20 when he replaced Kiko Casilla during the Spaniard’s racism ban, helping Marcelo Bielsa’s side win the Championship. He was regarded as one of the league’s most promising young goalkeepers, although he did not fully hit his ceiling at Elland Road.

Meslier stayed first-choice for much of Leeds’ three Premier League seasons, then was dropped by Sam Allardyce during a doomed survival bid. Daniel Farke kept faith until spring 2025, when recurring errors saw Darlow take over.

A switch to Arsenal, even as understudy to Raya, could bring more minutes than his last 12 months at Leeds. Kepa started 12 times last season, with Arteta rotating in the FA Cup and Carabao Cup, including the latter’s final against Manchester City.

Source: yorkshireeveningpost.co.uk