Arsenal rejected 19-year-old Dominik Szoboszlai to sign Willian in 2020, one man is to blame

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Arsenal reportedly had the chance to sign a then 19-year-old Dominik Szoboszlai from Red Bull Salzburg in 2020, but instead opted to bring in veteran winger Willian on a free transfer. The article explains that this decision is now viewed as a major missed opportunity, given Szoboszlai’s subsequent rise to stardom in Europe.

Szoboszlai, now a key figure at elite level, was already highly rated in 2020 for his creativity, set-pieces and goal threat from midfield. At Salzburg he was developing rapidly and was considered affordable, with a relatively modest release clause for such a promising talent. Some within Arsenal’s recruitment setup are said to have pushed for his signing, seeing him as a long-term investment who could grow into a leading role.

However, the club ultimately chose the short-term route by signing Willian from Chelsea. The Brazilian arrived with Premier League experience and on significant wages, but his time at the Emirates was widely regarded as disappointing, with limited impact on the pitch before his departure.

The article places much of the blame for this decision on then technical director Edu, who had significant influence over transfer strategy at the time. It suggests that Edu favoured proven names over emerging prospects, and that his restructuring of Arsenal’s scouting department contributed to the club ignoring targets like Szoboszlai. In hindsight, the contrast is stark: Szoboszlai has gone on to justify the hype that surrounded him as a teenager, while Willian’s spell at Arsenal quickly fizzled out.

Overall, the piece frames the episode as emblematic of Arsenal’s misguided recruitment in that period: prioritising a fading star over a high-upside youngster, a choice that now appears especially costly given Szoboszlai’s development into a top-level midfielder.