Former Arsenal and Juventus forward Stephy Mavididi has been linked with a return to England this summer.
The Guardian have claimed that four Premier League clubs are among those keen on signing the Derby-born 24-year-old from Montpellier this summer, as well as one of his current club’s Ligue 1 rivals.
West Ham United, Brighton and Hove Albion, Southampton and Everton have all been said to have interest in the attacker, as well as Marseille, with Mavididi scoring 17 league goals in 65 appearances in his two campaigns in France’s top-flight for Montpellier.
Mavididi spent seven years at Arsenal between 2011 and 2018 but failed to make a senior appearance for the Gunners. While in north London, however, he did leave on three different occasions to get senior experience. Either side of a short stint with Preston North End, Mavididi had two spells with Charlton Athletic on loan.
In 2018, Mavididi left Arsenal for a move abroad and joined Juventus, initially linking up with the club’s under-23s side. After just one senior appearance in April 2019 during a defeat to S.P.A.L. in Serie A, Mavididi spent the 2019/20 campaign out on loan, getting his first taste of football in France.
In Mavididi’s first full campaign of regular senior football, he scored eight goals in 28 appearances in all competitions for Dijon, helping them avoid relegation out of France’s top-flight.
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Mavididi then moved permanently to France in 2020 and has spent the last two years with Montpellier. In his debut season, La Paillade finished eighth in Ligue 1 but could only muster a 13 th place finish in 2021/22.
Primarily a left winger, Mavididi has played up front on multiple occasions this season, as well as also featuring as an attacking midfielder earlier in his career, meaning he would add versatility to any club wanting to sign him.
The Gunners’ academy product has two years left on his contract in Ligue 1 after joining Montpellier for around €6.3million (£5.4m) two years ago.
The report claims that while the interest from clubs is still in its early stages, it is possible that a move for the versatile forward could come to fruition in the coming weeks.
Mavididi has represented England’s youth sides on 18 occasions between 2015 and 2017, scoring six goals.
While West Ham have been linked with the former Arsenal man, they are reportedly close to completing a move to sign Stade Rennais defender Nayef Aguerd for £30million.
