Leverkusen await answer from Arsenal target offered £1.2m pay rise
Bayer Leverkusen are waiting on a response from Ibrahim Maza after tabling improved terms for the midfielder, with Arsenal watching the situation just as closely. The 20 year old has emerged as one of the Bundesliga's standout performers this season, and his current club are determined to tie him down before anyone else gets the chance.
Maza joined Leverkusen from Hertha Berlin in 2025 on a contract running until 2030, but according to Sky Sport Deutschland, he has now been offered a new deal worth an extra £1.2million per year, with no release clause attached. Negotiations between player and club are said to be at an advanced stage, meaning Arsenal and any other interested parties are expected to learn within days whether Maza is prepared to commit his long term future to the BayArena.
The Friday Injury Tracker
Who's out, who's back and what it means for the next two games.
Arsenal are not alone in their admiration. Tottenham Hotspur have also been linked with the Algerian international, who caught Lionel Messi's attention during voting for the Kopa Trophy. That kind of recognition reflects the impact Maza has made since his move to Germany.
A breakout campaign
The numbers back up the hype. Maza already has three goals and three assists in the Bundesliga this term, and he opened his European account in October with a goal in Leverkusen's 4-0 win over Lech Poznan in the Europa League.
Primarily deployed as a central attacking midfielder, Maza is versatile enough to operate on either wing as well. He was the first signing made during Erik ten Hag's short spell in charge at Leverkusen and has continued to develop under current coach Carles Martinez Novell, who spoke publicly in August about his hopes for the youngster after the club rejected interest from AC Milan. A fee of around £33million was being discussed at that point, though Maza's value is understood to have risen considerably since.
Having come through Germany's age group system, Maza opted to represent Algeria at senior level, making his debut in 2024. He started all four of Algeria's matches at the World Cup as the Fennec Foxes reached the round of 32, and he is currently away on international duty for the November break, with Brahim Hemdani's side facing Togo home and away in matches that could seal their place at the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations.
Not the only Bundesliga name in the frame
Maza is not the only player from Germany's top flight generating transfer talk involving Arsenal this month. RB Leipzig winger Antonio Nusa, a Norway international teammate of Martin Odegaard, has also attracted headlines.
Asked by TV2 how he deals with the speculation, Nusa said: “I try to take a step back from that. There's a lot going on at the same time now. I try not to open my phone too often, because there's always something going on there. I see everything, then! Whatever comes. I'm not blind, so I get it. That's why I try to take a step back. I have good people around me. There's no stress. I just try to enjoy the everyday life I have in Leipzig.”
With Leverkusen pushing to secure Maza's signature on an improved contract, Arsenal's interest could be tested sooner rather than later.
