BREAKING NEWS: “We Were So Close to Signing Him… I Still Regret It” — Stan Kroenke Opens Up on Arsenal’s Painful Deadline Day Miss
Arsenal owner Stan Kroenke has made a rare and emotional admission, revealing his deep regret over a missed deadline day signing that he believes could have changed the club’s trajectory. Speaking candidly in a recent interview, Kroenke admitted that Arsenal were on the verge of completing the deal, only for an unexpected incident on deadline day to derail the move at the very last moment.
According to Kroenke, it is a decision that still haunts him.
“We were so close to landing him on transfer deadline day,” Kroenke said. “But something happened that day that I’m still regretting up till now. I wish I had known.”
While Kroenke stopped short of naming the player outright, sources close to the club suggest the individual was viewed internally as a game-changing signing — someone capable of instantly elevating Arsenal to the next level both domestically and in Europe. Negotiations were said to be at an advanced stage, with personal terms largely agreed and confidence high inside the Emirates.
However, as deadline day chaos unfolded, an unforeseen incident — believed to involve last-minute complications outside the club’s control — caused hesitation within Arsenal’s hierarchy. That brief moment of doubt proved costly.
“In football, timing is everything,” Kroenke added. “Sometimes you hesitate for the right reasons, but football doesn’t wait. That’s a lesson I learned the hard way.”
The player eventually went on to join another top club shortly after, where he flourished and justified the belief Arsenal had in him. His subsequent performances have only intensified the sense of regret among Arsenal fans, many of whom have long suspected that the club missed a golden opportunity on that infamous deadline day.
Inside Arsenal, the failed move has reportedly been used as a reference point in recent transfer windows — a reminder of the fine margins that separate success from disappointment at the elite level. It is understood that Kroenke now encourages the board and recruitment team to act decisively when the right opportunity presents itself, rather than allowing hesitation to creep in.
Fan reaction to Kroenke’s comments has been mixed. Some supporters appreciate the honesty and self-reflection, seeing it as evidence of growth from the ownership. Others view the admission as painful confirmation of what they have believed for years — that Arsenal’s cautious approach in the past cost them major trophies.
“If I could go back, I would handle that day differently,” Kroenke admitted. “You don’t always get second chances with special players.”
As Arsenal continue their push to compete at the very top again, this revelation serves as a reminder of how one moment, one delay, one incident on deadline day can reshape football history.
For Stan Kroenke and Arsenal, it remains a what-if that still lingers — and one they are determined never to repeat.
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