Myles Lewis-Skelly finished 2025-26 on a high: first-choice central midfielder for Arsenal, Premier League champion, and a starter in the Champions League final at just 19 years old.
Yet as the summer transfer window approaches a close, there have been reports of a possible sale to one of their domestic rivals: Chelsea and Manchester United.
So what is the situation: how does Lewis-Skelly view his future, what is the level of interest from elsewhere, and what should be expected in the weeks ahead of the September 1 deadline?
After speaking to multiple sources familiar with the process — all of whom remain anonymous to protect relationships — The Athletic explains the lay of the land.
Where does Lewis-Skelly stand in the pecking order at Arsenal?
Having broken into the team as a left-back, Lewis-Skelly transitioned to his preferred position of central midfield last season.
He did so to great effect.
After spending a considerable portion of 2025-26 on the fringes of the team, Lewis-Skelly stepped into midfield for the run-in, helping Arsenal to a first Premier League title since 2004 and earning a start in the Champions League final.
However, the £75million ($101m) signing of Bruno Guimaraes from Newcastle United last week adds yet another midfielder to manager Mikel Arteta’s already impressive squad.
Guimaraes, 28, is likely to be Arteta’s preferred partner for Declan Rice, with Lewis-Skelly and Martin Zubimendi pushing for first-team minutes behind them. Last season, the English teenager ended the campaign ahead of the Spaniard in the pecking order.
Bruno Guimaraes has joined from Newcastle (Justin Setterfield/Getty Images)
What is Lewis-Skelly’s view?
Lewis-Skelly, who has been at Arsenal since the age of eight, is unequivocal: he wants to stay. He is neither seeking nor even exploring a move away from the Emirates Stadium.
Having been part of the first wave of players to join up for pre-season training last month, Lewis-Skelly has been a significant part of Arteta’s plans in this period. He has started the first three of Arsenal’s four friendlies, and coaching staff have invested time in fine-tuning his understanding of the midfield position.
The arrival of Guimaraes does not daunt Lewis-Skelly. Already in his young career, he has demonstrated the willingness — and capability — to fight for his place against more seasoned professionals.
Lewis-Skelly signed a long-term contract in the summer of 2025. At 19, he recognises he is still developing, and believes a highly competitive environment is ideal for honing his talents.
What is the club’s stance on Lewis-Skelly and his future?
Arsenal maintain they have not actively offered Lewis-Skelly out for transfer. After his impressive end to last season, he is not someone the club set out to sell in this window.
There are certainly others in the champions’ first-team ranks who meet that description.
Arsenal entered the summer market knowing that player trading would be a focus. They planned to sell several squad members to ensure regulatory compliance and unlock greater spending potential.
Some of that has been fulfilled – Christian Norgaard has joined Everton for £7million, while Leandro Trossard moved to Besiktas in a deal that could total €20m (£17.1m, $22.9m).
Others, such as Gabriel Jesus, Reiss Nelson and Fabio Vieira, have proven more difficult to move on. Arsenal would also listen to attractive offers for Gabriel Martinelli or Ethan Nwaneri, but appropriate bids have not materialised.
What were football transfers like before the transfer window?
Tifo Football
Arsenal do not actively want to lose Lewis-Skelly. In football, however, you can never say never — and there is a caveat worth considering.
With the window closing on September 1, Arsenal recognise that their approach to sales in the next couple of weeks may have to be flexible. Their capacity to generate revenue via sales is ultimately determined by the market, and those players that are attracting interest.
If buyers for the expected departures fail to come forward, Arsenal may be willing to entertain offers for a wider group of players.
What is Chelsea’s view on Lewis-Skelly — and do they need him?
Club sources told The Athletic that Lewis-Skelly had been offered to them, but there is not really any room for him in the Chelsea squad.
Moises Caicedo, Enzo Fernandez, Romeo Lavia, Dario Essugo, Reece James, Valentin Barco and Jordan Henderson (the latter two signed in this window) are already expected to compete for midfield roles. Then there are very talented 16-year-olds Mahdi Nicoll-Jazuli and Reggie Watson, who both impressed new manager Xabi Alonso on the pre-season tour to Australia and East Asia.
Chelsea have a wealth of options in midfield already (Michael Steele/Getty Images)
The situation at left-back or left wing-back is not much better.
Jorrel Hato, newcomer Marco Palestra and Pep Chavarria — who is on the verge of completing a move from Rayo Vallecano — are all earmarked to play on that side. Barco can also be used, while under-21s regular Landon Emenalo is tipped to progress. Alonso may also opt to use wingers as attacking wing-backs, which he demonstrated in the 3-3 draw with Malaysian champions Johor Darul Ta’zim on Sunday in the final match of the tour.
Lewis-Skelly is clearly a player of some talent. A source with an understanding of the situation last season, speaking anonymously to protect relationships, says Chelsea were first made aware of the possibility of signing him before the winter window, although Arsenal maintain they have never offered him to anyone.
It is hard to see where he would fit in at Chelsea, unless there is a host of injuries and/or departures.
Simon Johnson
And what about Manchester United?
United have been offered Lewis-Skelly, though Arsenal say they have not directly offered him to anyone, while the player is keen to stay with them. At United, there is also some scepticism about how much he would cost, with the expectation that £45million would not be enough.
The Old Trafford club are targeting a new left-back to alternate with Luke Shaw, because the 31-year-old’s fitness needs to be managed. And as Lewis-Skelly has shown at Arsenal, he can operate at both left-back and in midfield. So in that sense, the 19-year-old would fit the bill.
But this reasoning is also why they rate Lewis Hall of Newcastle United and have looked at Real Madrid’s Eduardo Camavinga.
Laurie Whitwell
