Bournemouth and Nottingham Forest have registered formal interest in Arthur Theate, the Eintracht Frankfurt centre-back who has signalled his readiness for a Premier League move. The 26-year-old Belgian has made 75 appearances for Frankfurt since his summer 2024 arrival and signed a permanent contract through June 2029. Both English clubs will get an early look at their target at the World Cup, where Theate is expected to start for Belgium against New Zealand this week, filling in for Nathan Ngoy, who was sent off in the previous match against Iran. Frankfurt are open to selling, though they will demand at least €20m.
Theate's form took a sharp turn downward in 2025-26, making him suddenly available despite his long-term contract. He managed just a 6.25 average across four Bundesliga starts in April-May 2026, struggling to reproduce his earlier solidity. The decline coincided with Frankfurt's own defensive crisis; the German side earned only 2 points from their final five matches. A centre-back averaging 6.25 is expendable, even with three years remaining on his deal, and Frankfurt have made clear they would entertain offers at €20m or above.
Theate told sportsmole.co.uk he is "ready for that level." That confidence will face immediate scrutiny, with two potential suitors watching closely over the next week.
Two clubs, two different pressures
Bournemouth finished sixth in the Premier League and are preparing for their first season in UEFA competition after losing centre-back Marco Senesi to free agency. They need defensive reinforcement to cope with the added fixture load. Nottingham Forest faced a much harder season, battling relegation throughout 2025-26 and finishing 16th on 44 points. Their backline was repeatedly exposed, and they have urgent need for upgrades.
Both teams see Theate as the answer, though his recent form gives reason for caution. The €20m asking price is not prohibitive, but it reflects Frankfurt's assessment that a defender averaging 6.25 is someone they can afford to lose. A strong World Cup showing could shift the calculus — impressive form would restore confidence in his readiness and hasten a deal. A weak one might give both clubs pause about whether he can improve under new management.
Written by Jack Mercer with AI-assisted research, cross-checked against 1 outlet. How we work →