Former Hale End academy product Yunus Musah opens the door for a future return to Arsenal, although he remains happy at Valencia.
Valencia midfielder Yunus Musah is looking ahead to making his first World Cup appearance with the USMNT this month in Qatar. After some brilliant performances in Spain over the last few seasons, the 19-year-old La Liga midfielder is a vital part of the national team.
Few would remember Musah’s roots as a graduate of Arsenal’s famed Hale End academy. The 19-year-old La Liga midfielder was part of the youth setup but decided to move when a good opportunity from Valencia came along. The Gunners were keen to keep him on board, but the USMNT star wanted to accelerate his development.
At Arsenal, he may have eventually been given a chance to impress with the first team, and he was well on course to achieve that. But it would have taken several years to break through, and Musah was impatient to wait. Hence he took up the offer from Valencia in 2020, which allowed him to flourish.
After a brief period with Valencia’s youth team, Musah broke through the ranks and started regularly featuring for the first team. He made 31 and 29 appearances in the 2020-21 and 2020-22 seasons, respectively. He has played in 9 La Liga games with two assists this term.
James Benge of CBS Sports asked him what the future holds with club football, and Musah opened the door for a possible return to Arsenal.
Musah said, “You never know. I had a great time at Arsenal developing there; I still have friends there, and the coaches were great; being an Arsenal player, in general, is great. I loved playing for Arsenal. I’ve nothing against the club, and if one day it turns out to be that it’s time to go back, then it’s possible.
“For now, I’m really happy at Valencia, and I’m looking forward to carrying this season on in the same way we’re doing now.”
With the level of Musah’s displays, it’s safe to assume top clubs will soon gather around with enquiries. Valencia want continuity with the midfielder, protected with a contract until 2026 with a €100 million release clause.
Arsenal may only come close to paying such sums if the player is worth the money. For now, the Gunners are probably going in another direction, although in football, one cannot rule out anything in the future.
