Barcelona and Arsenal Target Fulham’s Josh King, reports detiksport and Mashable

Barcelona has set its sights on Fulham’s 19-year-old academy product Josh King, valuing the young midfielder at 40 million euros or approximately Rp 801 miliar, detiksport reported. The Spanish club’s pursuit of King follows a broader recruitment pattern targeting English clubs, which previously included a loan move for Marcus Rashford and the acquisition of Anthony Gordon from Newcastle United.

Fulham Academy Graduate Draws Hansi Flick Interest

Josh King broke into Fulham’s senior squad during the 2024/25 campaign after coming through the club’s youth academy. The London-born player made 32 Premier League appearances last season, operating primarily as a central midfielder, attacking midfielder, or right winger. According to monitoring reports from Tribuna cited by detiksport, Barcelona manager Hansi Flick has expressed clear interest in the teenager, prompting the club to deploy scouts to track his development.

Market valuations place the young midfielder at 40 million euros, though securing his services will present significant hurdles. King remains under contract at Craven Cottage until the summer of 2029, leaving the Premier League side in a strong negotiating position. Reports indicate that other unnamed giant clubs from the Premier League are also monitoring the player's progress.

Premier League Rivals Enter the Race with Higher Valuations

While Barcelona evaluates a potential move, Arsenal has simultaneously emerged as a serious contender for the young playmaker. Mashable Indonesia reported that Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta has identified King as a prime target, with the club exploring an aggressive recruitment stance for the upcoming winter or summer transfer windows. Unlike the 40 million euro valuation cited by continental tracking, Swiss media reports referenced by Mashable Indonesia note that Fulham has placed a steep 60 million euro valuation—roughly £51 juta or Rp 1,2 triliun—on their under-21 England international.

The race for King’s signature extends beyond North London and Catalonia. Liverpool and German giants Borussia Dortmund are actively monitoring the player, according to reports from Swiss outlet 4-4-2.ch cited by Mashable Indonesia. Industry analysts suggest that Fulham is unlikely to sanction a mid-season departure in January, pointing to the summer transfer window as a far more realistic timeline for any potential exit given his long-term contract status.

Arsenal Tracks King While Madueke Struggles for Game Time

The mounting interest in Fulham’s teenager arrives amid broader squad adjustments at rival clubs. Mashable Indonesia reported that Arsenal’s tracking of King coincides with mounting speculation surrounding Noni Madueke’s future at Emirates Stadium. Madueke, who arrived from Chelsea in the summer for £48,5 juta or approximately Rp 1,1 triliun, has struggled to secure a regular starting berth in the Premier League. Consequently, clubs including Atletico Madrid and Juventus have positioned themselves as potential destinations if Arsenal decides to move the winger on during the January transfer window.

Barcelona’s ongoing focus on English football talent highlights a strategic shift toward Premier League markets under Flick. Having previously explored deals for Marcus Rashford and completed a permanent transfer for Anthony Gordon, the Catalan club’s scouting network continues to prioritize young English-based profiles. With King tied down in west London for the next several seasons and multiple European heavyweights entering the fray, the battle for the 19-year-old’s signature shapes up as one of the major storylines of upcoming transfer windows.

More on this story: Arsenal and Liverpool Target Fulham's Josh King Amid €60m Valuation, per 4-4-2