Arsenal and Man Utd Target Joaquin Seys for Full-Back Reshuffle

Arsenal and Man Utd eye £30m Club Brugge star Joaquin Seys in full-back reshuffle

Arsenal’s rebuild under Mikel Arteta is not slowing down. Fresh from dipping into Club Brugge to sign winger Christos Tzolis, the Premier League champions are circling the Belgian side again – this time for one of Europe’s most talked-about young full-backs.

Joaquin Seys, rated at around £30 million, has emerged as a serious target as Arsenal look to add a different profile on the left side of their defence. The 22-year-old Belgian international has been tracked extensively by the Gunners’ recruitment team, with detailed scouting reports already on Arteta’s desk.

They are not alone.

Manchester United, still wrestling with long-standing issues at full-back, have also moved Seys high up their shortlist. An initial approach for Lewis Hall was knocked back by Newcastle United, who have made it clear the left-back is not for sale. That setback has pushed United towards Brugge’s rising star.

The chase is already crowded. Newcastle, Aston Villa, Benfica and Porto are all monitoring Seys, whose performances for Belgium at this summer’s World Cup sharpened interest across the continent. His contract still has three years to run, leaving Club Brugge under no pressure to sell or compromise on their valuation.

For Arsenal, this is about refinement rather than overhaul. Arteta has been open about his stance in the market, stressing he only wants “the right player” who can make the champions “much better.” Seys, with his blend of defensive discipline and attacking thrust from full-back, fits the kind of profile Arsenal have increasingly targeted: young, technically secure, tactically flexible.

The club’s recent work in Belgium underlines that focus. Tzolis’ arrival from Brugge only weeks ago showed Arsenal are more than comfortable returning to a market they trust. Seys would represent a different kind of investment – a defender expected to compete immediately in a title-defending squad.

At Old Trafford, the need feels more urgent. United’s search for a long-term successor to Luke Shaw has dragged on, and the club are determined to address that weakness before their Champions League return. The price tag is not expected to scare them off. United’s hierarchy know they cannot afford another season patching up the position.

Aston Villa are watching the same situation from a different angle. Lucas Digne’s return to PSG has left Unai Emery short at left-back, and Villa are in the market for a replacement capable of sustaining their push near the top end of the Premier League. Seys, with his age and ceiling, would tick plenty of boxes.

For now, Brugge hold the strongest hand. A young international defender, a long contract, a World Cup showcase and a queue of wealthy suitors: all the ingredients for a controlled auction.

The question is simple. Who blinks first – and who is willing to pay the price for a full-back who could shape their back line for the next decade?