Myles Lewis-Skelly transfer news: Chelsea make enquiry for Arsenal teenager amid long-term interest from Blues and Man Utd

2026/08/11

Categories: sports

Chelsea have made a new enquiry about signing Arsenal's Myles Lewis-Skelly. 

The Blues have a long-term interest in the midfielder and have made another check on his availability following Arsenal's signing of Bruno Guimaraes.

However, Arsenal do not want to sell Lewis-Skelly to a local rival and a team they may have to compete with for the top places this season. Chelsea were linked with Lewis-Skelly in January.

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Manchester United also have a long-term interest in Lewis-Skelly. However, United are still deciding whether they will commit to signing another midfielder or a left-back before the deadline.

It is questionable whether United would be able to do any more significant deals should they make a move for Lewis-Skelly.

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Speaking in May, Lewis-Skelly said celebrating with the fans meant everything as Arsenal showcased the Premier League trophy around north London

This is amid a market of high prices for central-midfield players this summer, although he can play both positions.

Last season, Arsenal kept their squad together despite a big spend. They want to be ambitious again this summer - but there is an acceptance there will have to be sales.

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Players like Ethan Nwaneri and Lewis-Skelly would represent pure profit.

Analysis: Would Arsenal be right to sell Lewis-Skelly?

Sky Sports' Sam Blitz:

"Pure profit" wrote Myles Lewis-Skelly on his Instagram page as Arsenal celebrated the Premier League title. Reading between the lines, it was message over his future.

Despite posing with the Premier League title in May, Lewis-Skelly had a very difficult campaign. Fully fit the whole season, he made just one Premier League start before Christmas - by the start of May he had only managed three.

Many fans felt it was right for Arsenal to move Lewis-Skelly on as the sale of an academy graduate would bring a 'pure profit' funds into the club - hence the message on Instagram.

But everything changed in May, Mikel Arteta put Lewis-Skelly in a previously unused midfield role for a crucial title run-in game against Fulham, and Arsenal got some life back into their team.

With Martin Zubimendi fading in terms of fitness and form - and Arsenal struggling against the Man City title race momentum - Lewis-Skelly was Man of the Match in the 3-0 win that put them back on track for the title.

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Speaking on Monday Night Football, Thierry Henry analysed Myles Lewis Skelly's outstanding midfield performance against Fulham.

Lewis-Skelly did not leave the midfield for the rest of the run-in - including the Champions League final defeat to Paris Saint-Germain.

From third choice left-back to playing in Arsenal's biggest game in 20 years, Lewis-Skelly had kick-started his Arsenal career again. But now the question marks have returned.

The £75m signing of Bruno Guimaraes has threatened his role in the Arsenal midfield. The Gunners' two most expensive players are now the Brazilian and Declan Rice.

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Declan Rice and Bruno Guimaraes come face-to-face for the first time after the Brazilian made his move from Newcastle to the Premier League champions.

For two midfield positions, Arsenal have Rice, Guimaraes, Lewis-Skelly, Zubimendi and Mikel Merino. Five does not go into two, so does something - or someone in this instance - have to give?

Ever since his breakthrough last year, Lewis-Skelly has become a fan favourite at Arsenal. He has showed his ability in both midfield and left-back - it is worth remembering he played 180 minutes in defence as Arsenal beat Real Madrid in the Champions League in 2025.

There are valid reasons for Arsenal keeping a hold on Lewis-Skelly, particularly given the amount of minutes key midfielder Rice has played over the past year.

The 27-year-old played in all but two of the Premier League, Champions League and Carabao Cup games between January 1 and the end of the season.

Minutes played by Arsenal players in midfield

Image: Minutes played by Arsenal players in midfield

By the time Rice got to the World Cup, England manager Thomas Tuchel admitted the midfielder was in "a lot of pain". Rice was substituted regularly during the World Cup - something that very rarely happens in an Arsenal shirt.

The sheer amount of minutes he has played means Arsenal cannot rely on the midfielder to just carry on running through the barriers. If Rice is to be rotated more often, then that opens the door for Lewis-Skelly to continue playing.

But on the flip side, Arsenal have Zubimendi and Merino as options for Rice rotation. And with Arsenal needing to address others areas and showing a need to sell better - their record transfer sale is still Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain's £35m move to Liverpool in 2017 - then Lewis-Skelly's future opens up a conundrum.

Arteta said important decisions will need to be made this summer to take the team to another level. But a popular academy graduate ends up at a Premier League rival, then that is not just an important decision - it's a controversial one.

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