Arsenal Target Dortmund Left-Back Svensson in £35m Transfer; North London 2026

Key Points

• Arsenal are reportedly interested in signing Borussia Dortmund left-back Daniel Svensson, according to reports from Fichajes and German outlet BILD, as relayed by Sport Witness
• The 24-year-old Swedish international initially joined Dortmund on loan from FC Nordsjaelland in January 2025 before making the move permanent in the summer of 2025
• Svensson has kept 12 clean sheets and helped Dortmund qualify for Champions League football by finishing second in the Bundesliga this campaign
• Dortmund want at least £35m (€35m rising to €40-45m with add-ons) if they are forced to cash in on him during the offseason, with his contract running until 2029
• Manchester United, Liverpool, AC Milan, Inter, Leeds United and Nottingham Forest have also been keeping a close eye on Svensson
• Svensson is an energetic left-back by trait, but has been featuring as a LWB in Niko Kovac’s back three system this season
• Mikel Arteta has been rotating Riccardo Calafiori and Piero Hincapié at left-back this season, with Myles Lewis-Skelly able to provide cover
• Svensson has been called up to Sweden’s 26-man squad for the 2026 FIFA World Cup
• Arsenal are set to face Burnley in the Premier League on Monday (18 May 2026) before finishing the league campaign against Crystal Palace on 24 May 2026

Arsenal FC (North London News)  May 16, 2026 — Arsenal have expressed serious interest in signing Borussia Dortmund’s highly-rated left-back Daniel Svensson, according to reports from Spanish outlet Fichajes and German publication BILD, as relayed by Sport Witness. The 24-year-old Swedish international has emerged as one of the Bundesliga’s most promising defensive talents, and multiple Premier League clubs are now monitoring his situation ahead of the summer transfer window.

As reported by Sport Witness, citing BILD, “Arsenal have set their sights on Svensson over a potential summer move to reinforce Mikel Arteta’s ranks”. The report adds that the nine-cap Swedish international’s performances in the second half of the campaign have particularly piqued the interest of several clubs, including the Gunners, who have now put him on their radar.

Why Is Daniel Svensson Attracting Interest From Top European Clubs?

The 24-year-old initially moved to Signal Iduna Park on loan from Danish side FC Nordsjaelland in last year’s winter window before the deal became permanent ahead of this term. Moreover, he has kept 12 clean sheets this season and has even helped Dortmund qualify for Champions League football by finishing second in the Bundesliga this campaign.

After showing glimpses of his qualities in the German top-flight, Svensson has established himself as a key starter in the Swedish national team. As reported by Football Talk,

“Svensson has been a key player since arriving at the Signal Iduna Park in January 2025”

he has continued to impress at the club. So far in this campaign, he has established himself as Niko Kovac’s preferred left-back option ahead of Ramy Bensebaini, featuring in all 20 Bundesliga games for Dortmund.

Svensson has been described as “the definition of a modern full-back” whose attributes fit into the “Swiss Army knife” profile of today’s game, and his “physicality and pressing ability” is seen as a “perfect fit” for top Premier League systems. He is quick, technically sound, comfortable playing out from the back, and is also efficient in defensive contributions.

According to StatMuse, Svensson has averaged almost 84% pass completion rate in the Bundesliga this season, along with 1.2 tackles and 2.3 clearances per game, while also chipping in with two goals and two assists each.

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What Is Dortmund’s Asking Price for Svensson?

Svensson still has a contract until 2029, and Dortmund want at least £35m if they are forced to cash-in on him during the offseason. According to German source Fussballdaten, as reported by SempreMilan,

“They want €35m rising to €40-45m with add-ons to even begin negotiations, while Svensson’s contract in Dortmund runs until 2029”.

This long-term contract significantly strengthens the German club’s position regarding the defender, who has two goals and two assists in 32 league games this season.

As reported by SempreMilan, citing Fussballdaten,

“Dortmund’s management want to keep Svensson in the squad but their model means they are not closing the door to a sale for the right price and do not consider the player ‘untouchable'”.

Ahead of next summer, Svensson is projected to have a 30% chance of leaving Dortmund, according to Sport Witness.

Which Clubs Are Competing for Svensson’s Signature?

However, purchasing the Scandinavian player won’t be straightforward for Arsenal as Manchester United and Liverpool have also been keeping a close eye on him. As reported by Yardbarker,

“Manchester United are interested in signing the Borussia Dortmund left-back Daniel Svensson at the end of the season. According to a report from Spain, they will also face competition from Arsenal and Liverpool”.

Liverpool have identified the 24-year-old as one of their top targets to rejuvenate their defence and increase competition at left-back, according to Fussballdaten.

As reported by Empire of the Kop, citing Fussball Daten, Liverpool have pinpointed Svensson as “‘one of their top targets'” and his aspirations of playing in the Premier League are described as an “‘open secret'”.

AC Milan has also been mentioned among the clubs interested in signing Daniel Svensson from Borussia Dortmund. Inter are showing the greatest interest in Svensson out of Italian clubs, and plan to use him as a wing-back, while Milan and Atalanta are also “cautiously testing the market.”.

Leeds United and Nottingham Forest are also keen on securing the defender’s signature, according to multiple reports.

Does Arsenal Actually Need Svensson at Left-Back?

Svensson is an energetic left-back by trait, but has been featuring as a LWB in Nico Kovac’s back three system this season. Moreover, he can provide cover in the engine room if needed. However, as reported by Football Talk,

“Arsenal are already well stocked” at left-back and “do not require additions”.

Mikel Arteta has been rotating Riccardo Calafiori and Piero Hincapié at left-back this season. Moreover, Myles Lewis-Skelly can provide cover in this position if needed, according to multiple sources. As reported by FourFourTwo,

“Lewis-Skelly appears to have lost his place as a left-back in N5, with both Calafiori and Piero Hincapie preferred in that position”.

This season, Calafiori has emerged as Arsenal’s preferred left-back when available, starting 16 league matches on the left flank.

So, Arsenal don’t need to invest more to add further depth to this position unless anyone leaves, according to the original report.

Although Svensson is an exciting player with significant potential, committing funds to another player on the left side would require selling one of the current options, and even then, Calafiori and Hincapie are already more established, as reported by Football Talk. Piero Hincapié is also expected to complete a permanent move once the season concludes, according to Sport Witness.

What Are Svensson’s Strengths and Tactical Attributes?

Nevertheless, Svensson is a highly talented player and could be a shrewd acquisition for Arsenal should they purchase him, according to the original report.

He plays as a wing-back in Niko Kovac’s setup for Dortmund, and his licence to get forward has led to him chipping in with four goals and two assists this season, with one of each coming against Bundesliga champions Bayern Munich in February, according to Transfermarkt data cited by Empire of the Kop.

The Swede has bagged two more goals in the Champions League, and although he has only 11 caps to his name so far—he only made his international debut in October 2024—he is expected to feature in the starting XI for Sweden. Borussia Dortmund’s young defender Daniel Svensson has been called up to Sweden’s 26-man squad for the upcoming 2026 FIFA World Cup.

The 24-year-old has been a revelation on that left flank for the BVB with his buccaneering runs forward without ever sacrificing his defensive duties.

What Is Next for Arsenal and Svensson?

It is going to be interesting to see whether the North London club eventually make a concrete approach to secure his services in the upcoming summer transfer window, according to the original report.

For now, neither side has submitted an official bid, despite the growing interest, as reported by Arsenal Station. News is likely to come before or after the World Cup, where he will be with Sweden this summer, according to SempreMilan.

Meanwhile, Arsenal are set to face Burnley in the Premier League on Monday (18 May 2026) at Emirates Stadium before finishing the league campaign against Crystal Palace later this month on 24 May 2026 at Selhurst Park. He is likely to feature in Dortmund’s final game of the 2025-26 season this Saturday away to Werder Bremen before heading off to join Sweden’s training camp, according to StatMuse.

Background:

Daniel Jonathan Svensson (born 12 February 2002) is a Swedish professional footballer who plays as a central midfielder or left-back for Bundesliga club Borussia Dortmund and the Sweden national team.

On 3 February 2025, Svensson joined Borussia Dortmund in Germany on loan from Nordsjælland with an option to buy.

On 20 April, he scored his first goal for Dortmund in a 3–2 victory over Borussia Mönchengladbach. After a successful loan spell, he joined on a permanent contract on 14 May 2025. Later that year, on 1 October, he netted his first UEFA Champions League goal in a 4–1 win over Athletic Bilbao.

The transfer speculation began in February 2026 when German outlet BILD first reported Arsenal’s interest, with Sport Witness relaying the information. Initial reports valued Svensson at around £26 million, with Leeds United and Nottingham Forest also keen.

By May 2026, the valuation had increased to £35m (€35m rising to €40-45m with add-ons), with Manchester United, Liverpool, AC Milan, and Inter joining the race.

Prediction: How This Development Could Affect Arsenal Fans and the Squad

If Arsenal proceed with a bid for Svensson, North London fans should expect a competitive transfer battle with multiple Premier League rivals. The £35m+ price tag represents a significant investment, particularly given that Arsenal already have three capable left-backs in Calafiori, Hincapié, and Lewis-Skelly.

For Arsenal supporters, this development could mean several outcomes. First, if Arsenal successfully sign Svensson without selling existing left-backs, it would indicate the club is planning for long-term squad depth or anticipating departures, potentially including Ben White on the right flank, where depth is actually needed, according to Football Talk. Second, if Arsenal pursue Svensson but fails to close a deal, it would signal that the club is willing to invest in defensive quality but only at the right price point, given Dortmund’s firm stance on their asking price.