Chelsea are reported to have turned down a sizeable offer from Premier League rivals Arsenal for highly rated 16-year-old goalkeeper Freddy Bernal.
An England youth international, Bernal turned 16 in October and has made the step up to the U18 Premier League this season.
He is tipped for a bright future, which has prompted interest from Arsenal and others. But Fabrizio Romano has explained that a £1.25m offer from the Gunners was rejected by Chelsea.
The stance from Stamford Bridge is that they want to keep him, although clubs remain interested.
It may be some time before Bernal is ready for first-team action, even if Gianluigi Donnarumma has been a starter since breaking through at the same age with AC Milan, but Chelsea’s senior goalkeeping picture continues to be busy and unsettled.
🚨 EXCL: Arsenal have offered Chelsea £1.25m for England U18 goalkeeper Freddy Bernal.
Chelsea rejected the bid, clear on their position as they want to keep Bernal. Several other clubs remain interested. pic.twitter.com/iYlQNPABeQ
— Fabrizio Romano (@FabrizioRomano) May 11, 2025
With Kepa Arrizabalaga and Djordje Petrovic returning from positive loans at Bournemouth and Strasbourg respectively, Robert Sanchez and Filip Jorgensen the current one and two and Marcus Bettinelli still in the background as number three, Chelsea have an abundance of goalkeepers.
Even with Lucas Bergstrom set to leave when his contract expires, Mike Penders will join from Genk on 1 July, and there are also now rumours of serious interest in Borussia Dortmund’s Gregor Kobel.
The Swiss stopper, who played for Dortmund in last season’s Champions League final, is reported to be valued by the Bundesliga side at £51m. That figure would make him the third most expensive goalkeeper in football history, behind only Alisson (£67m) and Kepa (£72m). The latest reporting from Germany suggests Kobel is ready for the “next step” of his career.
Arsenal are much more comfortable with their first-team goalkeeper picture, in terms of having an ideal starter, after dispensing with Aaron Ramsdale in favour of David Raya. But the depth in goal needs attention, with Neto’s loan from Bournemouth set to end imminently. Espanyol’s Joan Garcia is the preferred replacement.
