Expected window: January 2027
Alberto Costa to Arsenal FC
Last update: 6 days ago
Evidence score
Arsenal and Manchester United are monitoring Porto right‑back Alberto Costa for a possible January move; his contract runs to 2030. The first reports appeared on 29 Sep when Flashscore and Yahoo Sports, plus two other outlets, linked both Premier League clubs to a January approach, citing CaughtOffside.
- Independent sources20/40
2 independent sources (max 4); 8 other outlets only repeat someone else's reporting
- Source track record10/25
The independent sources have no history yet (assumed 40%)
- Deal stage0/25
Stage: interest
- How recent10/10
Last update 6 days ago
What we know
Arsenal and Manchester United are monitoring Porto right‑back Alberto Costa for a possible January move; his contract runs to 2030. The first reports appeared on 29 Sep when Flashscore and Yahoo Sports, plus two other outlets, linked both Premier League clubs to a January approach, citing CaughtOffside.
On 7 Oct MSN repeated the assessment and added a €65 m valuation. Fichajes on 27 Oct said Arsenal are interested but Porto would insist on the full release clause. The next day, 28 Oct, les‑transferts.com and the4thofficial.net described a three‑way battle with PSG and Manchester City, attributing the story to fussball‑news.de. The Evening Standard also notes that both clubs are “keeping tabs” on the player.
No source says a formal bid has been lodged; Fichajes stresses the €65 m clause remains the obstacle, per Fichajes.
Key findings
- Earliest report on file: 28 Sept 2026, TEAMtalk, citing CaughtOffside (not among the sources).
- 2 independent sources behind it (Evening Standard, TribalFootball.com); 8 other outlets only repeat earlier reporting.
- Best-rated independent source: Evening Standard.
- Deal stage reached by a counted source: interest.
- 3 reports attribute the story to CaughtOffside, whose own article is not among the sources.
- 2 reports attribute the story to fussball-news.de, whose own article is not among the sources.
- No source denies the move.
- Latest evidence: 6 days ago.
Who reported it
| Outlet | Tier | What they said | Track record | Checked |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Evening Standard | Tier 2 · Established | Manchester United and Arsenal are both keeping tabs on Porto right-back Alberto Costa Stage: interest | No history yet | Original source |
| TribalFootball.com 29/09/2026 | Tier 3 · Secondary | It's no wonder then that both Premier League clubs are being linked with a January move for Porto's excellent Alberto Costa. Stage: interest | No history yet | Original source |
| Yahoo Sports 29/09/2026 | Tier 2 · Established | Arsenal have emerged as suitors for FC Porto right-back Alberto Costa Stage: interest | 1 of 3 cases · 33% | Cites CaughtOffside (not in this dossier) |
| TEAMtalk 28/09/2026 | Tier 2 · Established | Arsenal are among clubs monitoring Porto’s Alberto Costa, who has a £56m release clause. Stage: interest | 5 of 5 cases · 100% | Cites CaughtOffside (not in this dossier) |
| MSN 07/10/2026 | Tier 3 · Secondary | Man United and Arsenal are assessing a move for Porto's Alberto Costa, rated at €65m. Stage: interest | No history yet | Repeats another outlet |
| Flashscore 29/09/2026 | Tier 3 · Secondary | both Premier League clubs are being linked with a January move for Porto's excellent Alberto Costa Stage: interest | No history yet | Cites TribalFootball.com |
| Sports Mole 29/09/2026 | Tier 3 · Secondary | Both Manchester United and Arsenal are closely monitoring the Portuguese international with no formal bids tabled. Stage: interest | No history yet | Cites CaughtOffside (not in this dossier) |
| les-transferts.com 28/10/2026 | Tier 4 · Speculative | Arsenal and Manchester United have identified Alberto Costa as a target for the January window, with PSG and Manchester City also monitoring the Porto right-back. Stage: interest | No history yet | Cites fussball-news.de (not in this dossier) |
| the4thofficial.net 28/10/2026 | Tier 4 · Speculative | Manchester United, Arsenal and PSG are in a three-way battle for Porto full-back Alberto Costa Stage: interest | No history yet | Cites fussball-news.de (not in this dossier) |
| Fichajes.net 27/10/2026 | Tier 4 · Speculative | Arsenal are interested in signing Alberto Costa but Porto demand his €65m release clause Stage: interest | 1 case, no percentage yet | Follows TEAMtalk (28 Sept) Tier 4 · Speculative report, later than a better-rated outlet saying the same: counted as a repeat, not a new source. |
Timeline
- 28 Oct 2026 · les-transferts.comArsenal and Manchester United have identified Alberto Costa as a target for the January window, with PSG and Manchester City also monitoring the Porto right-back.
Repeats reporting attributed to fussball-news.de (its own article is not in this dossier). Stage: interest
- 28 Oct 2026 · the4thofficial.netManchester United, Arsenal and PSG are in a three-way battle for Porto full-back Alberto Costa
Repeats reporting attributed to fussball-news.de (its own article is not in this dossier). Stage: interest
- 27 Oct 2026 · Fichajes.netArsenal are interested in signing Alberto Costa but Porto demand his €65m release clause
Came after TEAMtalk (Tier 2, 28 Sept) reported the same; counted as a repeat, not a new source. Stage: interest
- 07 Oct 2026 · MSNMan United and Arsenal are assessing a move for Porto's Alberto Costa, rated at €65m.
Repeats reporting from another outlet. Stage: interest
- 29 Sept 2026 · Flashscoreboth Premier League clubs are being linked with a January move for Porto's excellent Alberto Costa
Repeats reporting attributed to TribalFootball.com. Stage: interest
- 29 Sept 2026 · TribalFootball.comIt's no wonder then that both Premier League clubs are being linked with a January move for Porto's excellent Alberto Costa.
First-hand report. Stage: interest
- 29 Sept 2026 · Yahoo SportsArsenal have emerged as suitors for FC Porto right-back Alberto Costa
Repeats reporting attributed to CaughtOffside (its own article is not in this dossier). Stage: interest
- 29 Sept 2026 · Sports MoleBoth Manchester United and Arsenal are closely monitoring the Portuguese international with no formal bids tabled.
Repeats reporting attributed to CaughtOffside (its own article is not in this dossier). Stage: interest
- 28 Sept 2026 · TEAMtalkArsenal are among clubs monitoring Porto’s Alberto Costa, who has a £56m release clause.
Repeats reporting attributed to CaughtOffside (its own article is not in this dossier). Stage: interest
- Date unknown · Evening StandardManchester United and Arsenal are both keeping tabs on Porto right-back Alberto Costa
First-hand report. Stage: interest
Does Arsenal need him?
Right-Back: the full-backs Arsenal already have, from their squad list, and who they brought in there over the last two seasons. Facts only: we do not judge the need.
Current full-backs (3)
| Player | Position | Age | Contract |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jurriën Timber | Right-Back | 25 | 30 Jun 2028 |
| Riccardo Calafiori | Left-Back | 24 | 30 Jun 2029 |
| Ben White | Right-Back | 29 | 30 Jun 2028 |
Recent signings in this position
- Oleksandr Zinchenko (Left-Back)· no longer in the squad2025/26 · back from loan at Nottingham Forest
- Nuno Tavares (Left-Back)· no longer in the squad2025/26 · back from loan at SS Lazio
Is it still alive?
- First report
- 28 Sept 2026
- Latest report
- 28 Oct 2026 (5 days ago)
- Transfer window
- January 2027: shuts in 91 days
The window the reports point to. If the move has not happened 10 days after it shuts, the dossier closes as not done.
Contract and fee
- Contract until
- June 2030
- Reported fee
- —
No outlet has quoted a figure for this move yet. We never estimate one.
Also linked with
Score over time
Player profile
- Full name
- Alberto Oliveira Baio
- Age
- 23
- Agent
- AS1
Photo: Non lodò 2, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons; resized and cropped.
Full player profile: contract and career moves →