It has emerged that Arsenal were on the verge of signing Jude Bellingham for a mere £500,000 back in 2017.
This revelation, first reported by the Daily Mail, sheds light on a missed opportunity that has left Arsenal fans wondering what could have been.
Bellingham was only 14 when Arsenal spotted the Real Madrid star’s potential and made an approach. The Gunners were willing to pay £500,000 for the former Birmingham City starlet, a deal that could have changed the course of Bellingham’s career.
However, fate took an unexpected turn as an “unforeseen delay” disrupted Arsenal’s plans, allowing Birmingham to swoop in and secure Bellingham’s signature. This hiccup would ultimately cost Arsenal one of the brightest talents in English football.
Manchester United were also in the hunt for Bellingham’s services. A sporting director at the club revealed that there was no doubt about Bellingham’s immense talent, but the problem was securing his signature. United offered to fast-track him into their first-team squad, but concerns arose about his professional pathway at Old Trafford.
RELATED: Pep Guardiola’s Three-Hour Bid To Secure Jude Bellingham’s Move To Manchester City Over Real Madrid
Both Arsenal and Manchester United could have signed Jude Bellingham for just £500k 😱
— GOAL News (@GoalNews) October 20, 2023
RELATED: Jude Bellingham Says He Wants To ‘Stay At Real Madrid For The Next 10-15 Years’
Bellingham chose Birmingham instead, and at just 16 years old, he made his senior debut for the club. A move to Borussia Dortmund followed, where he continued to blossom. Then, in the summer of 2023, Bellingham’s journey led him to Real Madrid in a transfer worth €103 million (£90m/$109m).
Arsenal’s near-miss with Bellingham joins the list of their famous transfer blunders. Over the years, they have been tantalisingly close to securing the signatures of the likes of Zlatan Ibrahimovic, Cristiano Ronaldo, and Lionel Messi. In Bellingham, they missed out on a player who is already being hailed as one of the best midfielders in the world and who could have been theirs for just £500,000.
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