Arsenal and Chelsea have reportedly been tracking Feyenoord midfielder Gjivai Zechiel, with a January move under consideration as the 22-year-old continues his rapid rise in the Eredivisie.
According to Caught Offside, both London clubs are keeping tabs on the Dutchman ahead of the winter window, though Feyenoord’s exact asking price remains something of a moving target.
Zechiel was hardly a household name heading into the campaign, having spent recent seasons out on loan at Sparta Rotterdam and FC Utrecht. This term, though, he has exploded into life back at De Kuip, chipping in with five goals and three assists across his first seven league outings under new boss Giovanni van Bronckhorst.
It’s worth noting Feyenoord swiftly rewarded that form by tying the midfielder down to a fresh deal running until 2029 — a move that could complicate any club hoping for a cut-price deal in January. Reports suggest a fee in the region of €30 million would be needed to prise him away, though whether Feyenoord would sanction a sale mid-season is another matter entirely.
Why the Interest Makes Sense for Both Clubs
Chelsea’s midfield business this summer didn’t go to plan. A deal for Lamine Camara collapsed on deadline day, and with Liverpool now said to be leading the race for the Monaco man, the Blues may need a fallback option — Zechiel’s profile and price tag could fit that bill.
Arsenal’s motives look slightly different. Mikel Arteta already boasts arguably Europe’s most balanced midfield, so any move for Zechiel would likely be about long-term squad building rather than an immediate fix — especially with a new striker still the priority.
My take: chasing a player straight off the back of a new contract rarely ends well in January. Feyenoord have no financial pressure to sell, and clubs may be better served monitoring him through the season rather than forcing an approach now.
