For just £4m has more goals than Alexander Isak and will be Eric Dier’s new teammate

In the high-stakes world of Premier League football, transfer decisions can make or break a season. For Arsenal, their striker crisis has become the club’s most pressing concern, with midfielder Mikel Merino now deployed as a makeshift forward following season-ending injuries to Kai Havertz and Gabriel Jesus. As the Gunners struggle to find goals, one particular sale has come back to haunt them with painful clarity.

Mika Biereth, sold for a modest £4 million last summer, has transformed into one of Europe’s most clinical finishers. The 22-year-old striker never made a single first-team appearance for Arsenal before being sold to Austrian side SK Sturm Graz. Now at Monaco, his 23 league goals this season remarkably outpace Newcastle’s Alexander Isak (22), PSG’s Kylian Mbappe (22), and even Manchester City’s scoring machine Erling Haaland (21).

For Arsenal fans, the sight of a former academy product thriving elsewhere while their own title challenge falters due to striker shortages represents a bitter pill to swallow. Yet Biereth’s journey from Arsenal outcast to European Golden Boot contender offers a fascinating case study in player development and the unpredictable nature of football careers.

The Early Years: From Fulham to Arsenal

Biereth’s football journey began in Fulham’s youth setup, where his goalscoring prowess caught Arsenal’s attention. In summer 2021, as his Fulham contract expired, the Gunners moved quickly to secure the promising teenager’s signature, adding him to their renowned academy system.

“The history of the club, the facilities, and the development pathway they presented made Arsenal an irresistible opportunity,” Biereth told reporters shortly after joining. During his time at the Emirates, he impressed in the Premier League 2, netting 14 goals in 26 appearances for the Under-23s in his debut season.

Despite these promising performances, Biereth found himself behind several established internationals in the first-team pecking order. The competition for striking positions at a club with Arsenal’s ambitions is notoriously fierce, with little room for unproven talents when Premier League points are at stake.

“For young strikers at top clubs, it’s particularly challenging,” explains former Arsenal youth coach Terry Burton. “Managers tend to trust experience when it comes to goalscoring, and opportunities are limited compared to other positions where rotation is more common.”

While Biereth showed potential in training and youth fixtures, Arsenal’s management—under constant pressure to deliver success—couldn’t find space for him in their immediate plans. Like many talented youngsters at elite clubs, he would need to prove himself elsewhere.

Loan Spells and Development

Recognizing the need for senior experience, Arsenal arranged a loan move to RKC Waalwijk in January 2023. The Eredivisie, with its technical emphasis and attacking philosophy, provided the perfect environment for a developing striker.

Biereth’s Dutch experience yielded four goals in 13 appearances—respectable if not spectacular numbers. More importantly, he gained valuable experience against senior defenders and adapted to professional football’s physical demands. His intelligent movement and positional awareness impressed observers even when goals weren’t flowing freely.

Following his Netherlands stint, Biereth was loaned to Scottish Premiership side Motherwell for the first half of the 2023/24 season. In Scotland’s physically demanding top flight, he continued his development with five goals in 20 appearances, demonstrating improved all-round play and greater resilience.

It was during the second half of that season that Biereth’s career trajectory began its dramatic upward curve. A January 2024 loan to Austrian Bundesliga side SK Sturm Graz provided the platform for his breakthrough. Away from English football’s intense scrutiny, Biereth found his rhythm and confidence.

“Sometimes players just need the right environment to flourish,” notes football scout Dave Thompson. “Austria was perfect for Biereth—competitive enough to challenge him but also a league where he could play regularly without the weight of massive expectations.”

Austrian Success and the Permanent Move

At Sturm Graz, Biereth immediately impressed coach Christian Ilzer with his work ethic and clinical finishing. Given regular starting opportunities, he repaid the faith with nine goals and four assists in 22 appearances during his loan spell, helping the club secure a historic league and cup double—their first such achievement since 1999.

His performances convinced Sturm Graz’s management to make the move permanent. In July 2024, Arsenal agreed to sell Biereth for £4 million—a figure that seemed reasonable at the time for a player without first-team experience. The deal included a sell-on clause, but Arsenal clearly didn’t anticipate the explosive development that was to come.

“Making it at Arsenal isn’t the be-all and end-all of someone’s career,” Biereth told The Athletic in November. “There are many ways of having a successful career outside of Arsenal.”

These prophetic words would soon be vindicated as Biereth’s career accelerated dramatically. Free from the pressure of proving himself worthy of Arsenal’s first team, the young striker played with newfound freedom.

His second season in Austria began at an astonishing pace. Twelve goals in the first half of the 2024/25 campaign announced Biereth as one of European football’s most promising young strikers. His Champions League performances—including two goals against established European opponents—further enhanced his growing reputation.

“What makes Biereth special is his intelligence,” explains Austrian football journalist Klaus Weber. “He’s not the fastest or strongest, but his movement is exceptional. He knows exactly where to be and when to be there—an instinct you can’t easily teach.”

The Monaco Move and Explosion onto the World Stage

By December 2024, Europe’s bigger clubs had taken notice. When AS Monaco offered £12.6 million in January 2025—tripling Sturm Graz’s investment in just six months—the Austrian side reluctantly accepted.

Monaco’s interest was accelerated by necessity. The Ligue 1 club sought a replacement for another former Arsenal striker, Folarin Balogun, who had suffered a season-ending shoulder injury. The irony wasn’t lost on Arsenal fans—one former Gunner replacing another in the principality.

Few could have predicted what happened next. Biereth adapted to French football with remarkable ease, scoring on his debut against Strasbourg and never looking back. Ten goals in his first ten Ligue 1 appearances—including three hat-tricks—announced his arrival as one of Europe’s most clinical finishers.

“Sometimes a player just finds the perfect fit,” says French football expert Julien Laurens. “Monaco’s system, with its quick transitions and creative midfielders, suits Biereth perfectly. He’s receiving better service than ever before, and he’s repaying that with goals.”

His stunning form has helped Monaco challenge for Champions League qualification, with the club currently sitting fourth in Ligue 1, just one point behind third-placed Lille. Saturday’s dramatic 90th-minute equalizer against Le Havre—ending a rare three-game goalless streak—further underlined his importance to the team’s ambitions.

The Arsenal Perspective: A Painful Miss

While Biereth thrives in France, his former club Arsenal faces a striker crisis that has potentially derailed their title challenge. Season-ending injuries to both Gabriel Jesus and Kai Havertz have forced Arteta to deploy midfielder Mikel Merino as an emergency striker—a makeshift solution yielding mixed results.

The contrast between Arsenal’s striking problems and Biereth’s prolific form has not gone unnoticed among the Emirates faithful. Social media has been flooded with frustrated fans questioning the decision to let him go without first-team opportunities.

“Hindsight is always 20/20 in football,” cautions former Arsenal striker Alan Smith. “At the time, the decision made sense. Biereth was behind several established internationals, and his loan performances hadn’t suggested he was ready to lead the line for a title-chasing Arsenal team.”

Others are less forgiving. “This is a recurring issue for Arsenal,” argues football pundit Gary Neville. “They’ve repeatedly failed to recognize the talent in their own academy. Serge Gnabry, Donyell Malen, and now Biereth—how many more need to succeed elsewhere before they change their approach?”

Arsenal’s technical director Edu Gaspar defended the club’s decision: “Player development isn’t linear. Mika has benefited from regular playing time that we simply couldn’t guarantee him here. We’re delighted to see him doing well.”

Sources close to the club suggest that Arsenal’s sell-on clause is around 20%, meaning they will benefit financially from Biereth’s rise. However, with the Gunners potentially missing out on the Premier League title due to their striking limitations, that financial consolation offers little comfort to fans dreaming of ending their 21-year wait for a league championship.

The International Question

As Biereth’s stock continues to rise, an interesting international situation is developing. Born in London to a Danish father and an American mother, Biereth is eligible to represent England, Denmark, or the United States.

He has represented Denmark at youth level but has yet to commit his senior international future. With three strong national teams potentially vying for his services, Biereth’s decision could have significant implications for the 2026 World Cup qualifying campaigns.

“It’s a decision I’ll make when the time is right,” Biereth stated in March. “Right now, I’m focused on performing for Monaco and continuing my development.”

Denmark coach Kasper Hjulmand has made no secret of his interest: “We’re following Mika very closely. His form has been exceptional, and he would certainly add something different to our attacking options.”

Similarly, United States head coach Jesse Marsch has acknowledged monitoring Biereth’s progress: “Any player performing at that level in a top European league is on our radar, especially when they have American eligibility.”

For England, with their wealth of attacking talent including Phil Foden, Cole Palmer, and Bukayo Saka supporting Harry Kane, Biereth might face a more challenging path to regular international football. Nevertheless, his form cannot have escaped the FA’s talent identification team.

The Future: Eric Dier and Champions League Ambitions

As Biereth settles into life in Monaco, he’ll soon be joined by another familiar face from North London. Former Tottenham defender Eric Dier is close to agreeing a three-year deal with the principality club, with an option for an additional 12 months.

Dier, whose contract at Bayern Munich expires this summer, looks set to leave Germany with a Bundesliga winner’s medal—his first major trophy, shared with close friend Harry Kane. His experience and leadership qualities will be valuable assets for a Monaco team hoping to return to the Champions League next season.

For Biereth, the prospect of Champions League football represents another significant step in his rapid development. Should Monaco secure a top-three finish in Ligue 1, he’ll have the opportunity to test himself against Europe’s elite clubs on a regular basis—potentially including Arsenal, in what would be a narrative-rich reunion.

“Playing in the Champions League has always been a dream,” Biereth admitted in a recent interview. “To do it with Monaco would be special. This club has a great history in European competition, and we want to add to that legacy.”

The Golden Boot Race

Perhaps the most remarkable aspect of Biereth’s meteoric rise is his positioning in the European Golden Boot race. Currently eighth with 23 league goals (worth 42.5 points due to Ligue 1’s coefficient), he sits ahead of established superstars like Erling Haaland and has a realistic chance of finishing the season as one of Europe’s top five goalscorers.

The table makes for impressive reading:

1. Viktor Gyokeres (Sporting CP) – 38 goals, 57 points
2. Mohamed Salah (Liverpool) – 28 goals, 56 points
3. Robert Lewandowski (Barcelona) – 25 goals, 50 points
4. Harry Kane (Bayern Munich) – 24 goals, 48 points
5. Mateo Retegui (Genoa) – 24 goals, 48 points
6. Kylian Mbappe (PSG) – 22 goals, 44 points
7. Alexander Isak (Newcastle) – 22 goals, 44 points
8. Mika Biereth (Monaco) – 24 goals, 42.5 points
9. Ousmane Dembele (PSG) – 21 goals, 42 points
10. Erling Haaland (Manchester City) – 21 goals, 42 points

To be mentioned in such illustrious company represents a remarkable achievement for a player who, just 12 months ago, was considered surplus to requirements at Arsenal. With four games remaining in the Ligue 1 season, Biereth has the opportunity to climb even higher in these rankings.

What Makes Biereth Special? A Technical Analysis

Biereth’s success isn’t merely the result of fortunate circumstances; his technical attributes and psychological resilience have enabled his remarkable rise. Standing at 6’1″ with an athletic build, he combines physical presence with technical refinement.

“What impresses me most about Biereth is his movement,” explains former Monaco striker Wissam Ben Yedder. “He’s always scanning, always aware of defensive positions, and he times his runs perfectly. That’s the sign of a natural goalscorer.”

Tactically intelligent, Biereth excels at finding space in crowded penalty areas. His heat maps show a player who predominantly operates centrally but can drift into channels when required. Unlike many modern strikers who participate extensively in build-up play, Biereth is somewhat old-fashioned in his focus on penalty box efficiency.

His finishing is clinical rather than spectacular—of his 23 league goals this season, 19 have come from inside the penalty area, with 14 scored with a single touch. This efficiency reflects excellent positioning and anticipation rather than extraordinary technical ability.

“He reminds me a bit of Ruud van Nistelrooy,” says Monaco coach Adi Hütter. “Not the most flamboyant player, but so effective. He’s always in the right place at the right time, and that’s not luck—it’s intelligence and hard work.”

Lessons Learned: For Clubs and Players

Biereth’s journey offers valuable lessons for both football clubs and young players. For Arsenal and other elite teams, his emergence elsewhere raises questions about talent identification and development pathways. Was there something the Gunners missed in their evaluation? Could a different loan strategy have yielded different results?

“Big clubs need to recognize that development isn’t linear,” argues youth development expert Tony Carr. “Some players bloom later than others. The challenge is identifying which late developers are worth persisting with, especially when there’s constant pressure for immediate results.”

For young players, Biereth’s story is one of perseverance and perspective. His willingness to step away from the Premier League spotlight and rebuild his career in Austria demonstrates the importance of playing regularly at a level where confidence and rhythm can be established.

“Making it at Arsenal isn’t the be-all and end-all of someone’s career,” Biereth’s earlier quote resonates even more powerfully now. His path shows that there are indeed many routes to the top of European football—sometimes the less direct ones ultimately lead to greater heights.

What Next for the Former Gunner?

At just 22, Biereth’s career trajectory suggests the best is yet to come. Current performance levels indicate a striker who could command a transfer fee of £40-50 million should he maintain his form through next season—a tenfold increase on Arsenal’s sale price in less than two years.

Rumors already link him with summer interest from clubs in the Premier League and Serie A, though Monaco will be reluctant sellers, especially if Champions League qualification is secured. His contract runs until 2028, giving the principality club a strong negotiating position.

For Arsenal fans, the reality is that their club’s loss has been Monaco’s gain. As the Gunners continue their search for a reliable goalscorer in the transfer market—with links to expensive established names—the irony of having sold a potential solution for just £4 million won’t be lost on the Emirates faithful.

In the volatile world of football, Mika Biereth’s story is a powerful reminder that sometimes the biggest talents are hidden in plain sight. From Arsenal outcast to European sensation, his remarkable journey continues to gather momentum—and the football world is watching with increasing interest to see just how far it will take him.

The Path Forward

With the season entering its final stages, Biereth faces a critical period in his breakthrough campaign. Monaco’s remaining four fixtures will determine whether his goals secure Champions League football for the principality club. His performances in these high-pressure matches will further shape perceptions of his long-term potential.

Beyond this season, the question becomes whether Biereth can maintain his exceptional form. The history of football is littered with one-season wonders—players who shone brightly but briefly before fading into mediocrity. The true test of Biereth’s quality will be consistency over multiple campaigns.

“The second season is always more challenging,” observes former Monaco technical director Michael Emenalo. “Once defenders know your game, they adapt. The great strikers are those who can then evolve their own approach in response.”

For Arsenal, meanwhile, the Biereth situation represents a painful learning experience. As they prepare for next season’s transfer business, the Gunners’ recruitment team will surely reflect on the processes that led to his departure. In an era of football economics where elite strikers command astronomical fees, discovering the next goal machine within your own ranks, only to sell them prematurely, represents a costly error.

Ultimately, Mika Biereth’s story transcends the fortunes of any single club. It stands as testament to the unpredictability of football careers and the persistence required to reach the highest levels. From Arsenal outcast to Monaco marksman, from youth prospect to Golden Boot contender—Biereth’s journey reminds us why football remains the beautiful game, capable of producing narratives more compelling than fiction.

As he prepares to face Le Havre this weekend, with Eric Dier soon to join him at the Stade Louis II, Biereth continues writing his remarkable story one goal at a time. For Arsenal fans, it’s a tale tinged with regret. For Monaco supporters, it’s a narrative of unexpected fortune. And for neutral observers, it’s simply one of football’s most fascinating recent rise-to-fame stories—with several chapters surely yet to be written.