Swedish teenage midfield sensation Oliver Mansson opens up on his future amidst interest from Arsenal, Chelsea and Barcelona.

Oliver Mansson, the 17-year-old IFK Goteborg midfielder, is being tracked by Arsenal, Chelsea and other top clubs after breaking into the Swedish club’s first team this season.

The teenager admitted that he was unaware of the reported interest until seeing speculation online, but when asked whether he would find it difficult to choose between the English Premier League giants, he laughed and replied via Expressen:

“Haha, it’s hard to choose.”

However, Mansson made clear that neither club holds a special place in his heart. When asked whether he had a favourite Premier League team, he explained that Barcelona had always been his preferred club.

“It’s been Barça for me, but… well, it’s always fun to have interest if there’s something. It’s the way it is,” Mansson said.

Asked whether he was waiting for Barcelona to make contact, the teenager responded:

“Yes, exactly,” before laughing.

Mansson has emerged as one of Sweden’s most promising young talents after breaking into the IFK Goteborg first team under Joachim Bjorklund this season. His performances have reportedly attracted attention from several clubs, with his technical quality and maturity standing out despite his age.

His ball control and distribution have drawn the attention of English scouts, particularly in a deeper midfield role where he combines possession management with vision.

Mansson’s sensational rise at Goteborg

Mansson’s breakthrough campaign has been encouraging. He made his senior debut at just 16 earlier this summer and has since established himself as a regular member of the Goteborg side.

He has featured in 13 Allsvenskan matches this season, registering two assists. His recent performances have been particularly strong, with the midfielder playing the full 90 minutes in three consecutive games as Goteborg enjoyed a strong autumn.

Mansson completed the full match during Saturday’s 2-2 draw away to AIK, though he admitted his team had hoped to take all three points.

“Of course you feel a little disappointed, we feel like we should have won. But we are hard to beat at the moment and we have to keep working on it,” he said.

With his contract secured until December 2028, IFK Goteborg are in a strong position to manage his future. Arsenal and Chelsea will face genuine competition if they decide to pursue him, particularly if Barcelona decide to move.

The Blues’ recruitment strategy focuses on signing elite young talents, while Arsenal have also increasingly focused on players with long-term potential as they build for the future.

Barcelona have yet to make an approach for Mansson, but their renowned La Masia academy could make them an appealing destination. If the Catalan giants decide to pursue him, the midfielder would likely jump at the opportunity to join his dream club.