Sunderland agree £30million Malick Fofana transfer after Mikel Arteta personally rejected move for Lyon winger

SUNDERLAND have agreed a £30million transfer for Malick Fofana – after Mikel Arteta personally blocked Arsenal signing the Lyon winger. The Gunners are keen to add an attacker before the 11pm deadline. Malick Fofana is expected to sign for Sunderland on deadline day Credit: Getty The winger was a target for Arsenal Credit: Reuters And it looked as though Fofana may have been on his way to the Emirates until Mikel Arteta stepped in and turned down the chance to sign him. However, Sunderland swooped to ensure the wide man will still head to the Premier League. Sign up for the Arsenal newsletter Thank you! Now the Black Cats have struck a deal with the French outfit. Sunderland will pay £26m up front – with an extra £4m in potential add-ons. Fofana, 21, is expected to pen a five-year contract at the Stadium of Light – with the option of a further 12 months. He has been given permission to travel to the North-East for a medal. And it should all get done and dusted before 11pm. Sunderland have already bolstered their squad ahead of Europa League football by bringing in three new signings. Most read in Football BEST ONLINE CASINOS – TOP SITES IN THE UK Full-backs Thomas Meunier and Dayann Methalie both arrived from Ligue 1. Then midfielder Jules Ahoka completed an £8.6m switch last week. And now Fofana looks to be their latest addition. Arsenal weighed up a move for the exciting Belgian international. But they were reluctant to pay the £34m asking price. Sunderland pounced on that hesitancy and hope to wrap up the deal in the coming hours. Chelsea spoke to Lyon earlier in the summer. And Everton also explored him as an option by holding talks. But both clubs opted to go for other targets. Fofana came through at Gent then joined Lyon in 2024, the same year he made the first of his five senior Belgium caps. Comment now