Jacobo Ramón

Jacobo Ramón, the young option in the defensive rebuild

With William Saliba out for months, Arsenal have added Jacobo Ramón to their centre-back shortlist. The 21-year-old Spaniard, a Real Madrid academy product who joined Como in 2025 for ≈€2.5m, is coming off a full breakthrough season in Serie A. The deal is complicated by the clauses Real retained (a 50% sell-on plus buy-back options), which push the price up: Como are believed to want €45-50m. Chelsea are tracking him too. Interest stage, no bid.

Latest development

**Update 14/08 (evening)**: The Athletic, via Yahoo Sports and SportsView on 11 August, confirms Arsenal are still monitoring Ramón, with William Saliba's and Jurriën Timber's injuries pushing a centre-back back up the list. He was watched at close range in the final pre-season friendly, Como visiting the Emirates. Two known and unchanged obstacles: Real Madrid retain 50% of his economic rights plus a buy-back clause. No bid lodged. Sami Mokbel (BBC Sport, July 24) reports Arsenal are monitoring Ramón as part of their centre-back search after Saliba’s injury; The Athletic confirm he is on the Gunners’ shortlist alongside Ezri Konsa and John Stones. The obstacle is contractual rather than sporting: Real Madrid kept a 50% sell-on and buy-back options, which mechanically inflates Como’s asking price (€45-50m mentioned for a player valued around €30m). Chelsea are on the same case. No club-to-club contact or bid reported at this stage. **UPDATE 30/07 (evening)**: the file moves up a notch, by elimination. Sports Mole (29/07, citing The Athletic) describe Ramón as Arsenal's plan C behind Marc Guéhi, who joined Manchester City, and John Stones, who is signing for Inter. The Gunners are looking at a permanent deal rather than a loan and are ready to spend rather than settle for a stopgap. The blocker is still contractual (Real Madrid keep 50% of any future sale plus a buy-back option) and Chelsea are still on the case. No club-to-club contact or bid reported so far — status unchanged.