Arsenal are keeping tabs on Como playmaker Nico Paz with an eye on a possible move in January 2027, according to reports, as Mikel Arteta’s side keep looking at options to strengthen a squad that is already performing well. The 22-year-old has grown into one of Serie A’s most thrilling young creative talents since he traded Real Madrid for Como.
Any deal, though, is made difficult by Real Madrid. Como sealed a €60 million transfer for Paz this summer, yet Madrid kept an €80 million buyback clause that kicks in during summer 2027. That hands the Spanish giants a major say over where his future lies.
Paz’s choice to stay at Como instead of heading back to Madrid has already brought rewards. He has become a key figure in Cesc Fàbregas’ project and helped Como qualify for the Champions League. He also registered 12 goals and six assists in Serie A last season and has begun the current campaign in impressive form.
Does Arsenal really need Nico Paz?
The straightforward answer is not right away. Arsenal already have Martin Ødegaard and Eberechi Eze battling for the advanced midfield position, while Declan Rice, Martín Zubimendi, and Bruno Guimarães provide Arteta with plenty of depth behind them.
Ødegaard, who also wears the captain’s armband, has begun the season in strong fashion as well, scoring several goals, including the winner against Napoli in their opening Champions League fixture. That turns Paz into more of a strategic acquisition than an urgent one, since Arsenal would be adding another elite creative option rather than addressing a glaring weakness.
Who would Nico Paz replace?
The most obvious point of comparison is Ødegaard, but Paz should not be seen as his direct successor. Rather, he could develop into the long-term alternative to the Arsenal captain while also playing alongside him. Paz is naturally left-footed, at ease between the lines, and able to carry the ball through pressure.
His dribbling stands out as one of his strongest attributes, and his previous numbers at Como show he can deliver goals as well as chances. That could give Arteta something Arsenal sometimes miss: a midfielder capable of breaking down a defensive structure on his own rather than depending entirely on combinations.
How would Paz improve Arsenal?
Ball carrying is likely the biggest appeal of having a Nico Paz presence in Arsenal’s midfield. Paz can take the ball in tight areas and then turn and drive into space. That matters for Arsenal because opponents increasingly sit deep against them, cutting down the room available for usual transitions. His creativity could also reduce Arsenal’s reliance on Ødegaard to link midfield and attack.
There is another plus: youth and potential. Paz is young enough to grow within Arteta’s setup while already having substantial Serie A experience. His price tag, though, could prove a problem. Paz is an exciting talent, but Arsenal do not need to part with €80 million just because a standout young player happens to be on the market.
Real Madrid’s buyback clause also means Arsenal might end up dealing with Madrid rather than simply with Como. Paz is talented enough. The real question is whether he brings something different enough from Ødegaard and Eze to warrant such a major outlay.