Manchester United Join Arsenal in Pursuit of Leverkusen’s Christian Kofane
Manchester United have entered the group of clubs monitoring Bayer Leverkusen striker Christian Kofane, with Arsenal also maintaining an interest in the Cameroon international as his contract situation in Germany remains unresolved.
Why Kofane is drawing Premier League attention
| Detail | Figure |
|---|---|
| Age | 20 |
| Height | 6ft 2in |
| Leverkusen appearances in his first season | 44 |
| Champions League appearances | 11 |
| Goals for Leverkusen | 7 |
| Goals for Albacete in Segunda Division | 8 |
| Current contract expiry | 2029 |
Kofane’s rise has been unusually rapid. Albacete signed him from Cameroonian academy AS Nylon in November 2024, and he made his professional debut in Spain two months later, in January 2025.
His eight Segunda Division goals prompted Leverkusen to move for him in the summer of 2025. The forward settled quickly into the Bundesliga club’s senior side, featuring 44 times across all competitions during his first campaign and gaining experience in 11 Champions League matches.
Although he finished that season with seven goals, Kofane’s size, running power and willingness to work without the ball have made him an attractive option for clubs seeking a young central striker with room to develop.
United and Arsenal are now among the English clubs keeping watch. Aston Villa, Newcastle United and Everton had also pursued the player during the summer, while Bayern Munich, Barcelona and Chelsea have previously been identified as interested observers. Kofane’s representative, Eric Depolo, said in April last year that Arsenal were “certainly keen” on his client.
Leverkusen face a contract question
Kofane remains tied to Leverkusen until 2029, but negotiations over an improved agreement have not yet produced a resolution. That impasse has given potential buyers encouragement despite the length of his existing deal.
Leverkusen will want to settle the matter and retain a forward who has made a swift impact at elite level. United, Arsenal and the other interested sides are likely to monitor whether those discussions progress before the next transfer windows, with any Premier League move not expected before 2027.
