Bournemouth have joined Arsenal in exploring a move for Paris St-Germain defender Emmanuel Mbemba on a free transfer. The Cherries have held initial talks over a development pathway for the 18-year-old left-back.

What's the plan for Mbemba?

Bournemouth plan to move Mbemba on loan to Lorient to continue his development before potentially returning to play in the Premier League.

Why it matters for Bournemouth

This move would not affect Marco Rose's first-team plans this summer, with Bournemouth primarily targeting a centre-back. They are working on a contract renewal for key midfielder Alex Scott and potentially looking to sign a striker should Enes Unal leave.

Current context

As of 27 Jun 2026, Bournemouth sit 6th in Premier League with 57 points, 28 points behind leaders Arsenal. Their recent form has been unbeaten in the last 5 games, with a record of 1W-4D-0L. Their last result was a 1-1 draw against Nottingham Forest on 2026-05-24. | Category | Stat | | League standing | 6th | | Points | 57 | | Recent form | 1W-4D-0L | | Goal difference | +4 | | Goals scored | 58 | | Goals conceded | 54 |

What comes next?

Arsenal have also offered a similar pathway, but Bournemouth's proposal could give them greater control over Mbemba's playing time while on loan. Mikel Arteta's side has impressed with their stable leadership and track record of developing players, including France international William Saliba during a loan spell at Marseille. Mbemba is a France youth international and recently captained PSG's under-19 side to French Youth Cup success at the Stade de France.