Marseille Targets Arsenal Keeper Illan Meslier
Marseille have turned their attention to Arsenal’s new signing Illan Meslier as they scramble to reinforce their goalkeeping department before the transfer window shuts, according to reports in France.
The Frenchman only arrived at the Emirates last month, walking away from Leeds United at the end of his contract to join the Premier League champions on a free. Arsenal handed him a two-year deal, tying him to the club until June 2028, with Mikel Arteta bringing him in as back-up to David Raya.
Six seasons at Elland Road left Meslier with a sizeable body of work: 215 appearances in all competitions and two promotions to the Premier League, in 2020 and again in 2025. For long stretches he was a cornerstone of Leeds’ plans.
Then everything stopped.
Under Daniel Farke last season, Meslier was frozen out of the squad and did not play a single competitive minute after March 2025. The man who once carried Leeds through promotion campaigns suddenly became surplus to requirements, and his sharpness has been left to rust on the sidelines.
His move to Arsenal promised a reset, but the early signs have been mixed. Meslier featured only as a substitute in pre-season friendlies against Girona, Real Betis and Borussia Dortmund. When the games started to matter, he slipped down the pecking order again: Kepa Arrizabalaga was named on the bench for both the Community Shield and Friday night’s league win over Coventry.
That situation has not gone unnoticed back in France. Foot Mercato report that Marseille have been “alerted” to Meslier’s precarious status and are weighing up a late push to prise him away from north London before the deadline.
Marseille's Goalkeeping Situation
Marseille’s need is clear. Bruno Genesio has Jeffrey de Lange as his established number one, but behind him the options are thin. De Lange is currently the only senior goalkeeper in the squad, with Jelle Van Neck and Theo Vermot yet to make a first-team appearance for the Ligue 1 side.
Club officials have been scouring the market for cover and competition for De Lange, and Meslier has emerged as one of their top targets. His profile still excites decision-makers at the Vélodrome, despite his lack of minutes over the past year. A 26-year-old with extensive Premier League and Championship experience, available at a moment when his pathway at Arsenal already looks crowded, is a tempting proposition.
There is a catch. The report stresses that Marseille may have to trim their squad and ease their wage bill before they can move from admiration to a concrete bid. Outgoings may need to come first; only then can they test Arsenal’s resolve and Meslier’s patience.
Meslier's Commitment
For now, the goalkeeper remains publicly committed to his new club. After signing for Arsenal, Meslier spoke of his pride and ambition.
“I’m extremely happy,” he told the club’s official channels. “It’s a great day for me because I have just joined the champions. For me, Arsenal is the biggest club in England.
“I’m very happy and very proud to join Arsenal. I cannot wait to show the love that I’ve got for this badge, and I cannot wait to win trophies with this team, because this is a club that needs to lift trophies again and again.”
Arsenal, for their part, have been busy reshaping a title-winning squad. Alongside Meslier, they have brought in Bruno Guimaraes, Christos Tzolis and Ezri Konsa from Newcastle, Club Brugge and Aston Villa respectively, and activated a £35 million option to make Piero Hincapie’s move from Bayer Leverkusen permanent. Leandro Trossard, Jakub Kiwior, Christian Norgaard and Karl Hein have all been allowed to depart.
So Meslier finds himself at a crossroads barely weeks after arriving. Stay and fight for a role as Raya’s understudy in a stacked Arsenal squad, or jump at the chance of a fresh start and likely greater responsibility in Marseille?
The clock on the window is ticking. Marseille’s next move will tell us how badly they want him – and how quickly Arsenal’s new “very proud” signing might be asked to rethink his North London dream.
