Arsenal ‘boycott’ Championship club’s move to sign free agent Illan Meslier
Championship club Birmingham City wanted to sign former Leeds goalkeeper Illan Meslier before Arsenal swooped in.
Meslier is available as a free agent having left Leeds at the end of June when his contract expired.
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Arrested at Arsenal
And the 26-year-old Frenchman is now set to join the Premier League champions, as talkSPORT understands a deal has been agreed.
According to the Daily Mail, Birmingham wanted to make Meslier their new No.1 but they could not meet Arsenal’s terms.
Meslier was training with the Gunners before signing a contract with Mikel Arteta’s club.
He joined Leeds from his home club Lorient in 2019, he was initially on loan, and went on to make 215 appearances for the Whites having joined permanently a year later.
Having been No.1 at Elland Road for five-and-a-half seasons, winning promotion to the Premier League in 2020 and 2024/25, a series of mistakes meant he eventually lost his place to Lucas Perri and later. Karl Darlow last term – and did not play a single game for Leeds in any competition.
Leeds made Meslier the man he is today
But Meslier still loves Leeds dearly, as he showed in an Instagram post after his departure.
“I wanted to take a moment to send this farewell message to everyone Leeds United fan,” he wrote.
“When I came to this club as a 19-year-old kid, I didn’t know what was in front of me.
Meslier will act as Premier League Golden Glove winner David Raya’s back-up at Arsenal, and talkSPORT understands the Gunners’ second-choice goalkeeper, Kepa Arrizabalagaon his way out of the Emirates Stadium.
Assuming the deal goes through, Meslier will be Arsenal’s second player in the current transfer window.
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The Gunners have already exercised their option to make a loan move for defender Piero Hincapie Bayer Leverkusen forever.
Gunners aiming to go back
Arsenal will look to strengthen their squad as they aim to retain their first Premier League title in 22 years.
Speaking after the Champions League final defeat to Paris Saint-Germain, Arteta vowed the club would be ‘very interested’ in the transfer market.
Aston Villa defender Ezri Konsa and PSG striker Bradley Barcola are among the names linked with a summer move to the Emirates.
Arteta’s side begin the new campaign with a curtain raiser, the Community Shield, against them FA Cup who beat Manchester City at Wembley on Sunday August 16.
They will then play in the opening game of the 2026/27 Premier League season at home to newly promoted Coventry City five days later.
Before that, Arsenal have pre-season friendlies lined up Girona, Real Betis, Borussia Dortmund and Como.
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