Arsenal Offered Sporting Centre‑Back Zeno Debast in Exploratory £34m Approach
The proposal presents a young, ball‑playing defensive option to cover William Saliba’s long layoff while clubs assess Debast’s recent injury record.
Overview
- Intermediaries have offered 22‑year‑old Zeno Debast to Arsenal with reports valuing the move at about £34 million.
- The approach is at an exploratory stage and Arsenal have not opened formal negotiations for the Sporting defender.
- Debast is a 6ft3, ball‑playing centre‑back who won the 2024–25 Primeira Liga and 2025 Portuguese Cup after joining Sporting from Anderlecht.
- His 2025–26 season was limited by repeated injuries, which reduced him to roughly 17 league appearances and raises fitness concerns for any transfer.
- If pursued, the deal would be part of Arsenal’s response to William Saliba’s World Cup injury and could affect the club’s priority list of defensive targets.