It has been a very busy week for the Arsenal academy as far as outgoings are concerned, with four players having left in the past couple of days.
Perhaps the most surprising departure was that of Daniel Oyegoke, with the 18-year-old having rejected Arsenal’s offer of a professional contract.
Oyegoke is mainly a right-back but has been used in various positions including centre-back, left-back and in midfield.
A player with much potential, the England youth international was involved with the first-team in pre-season last year, but thankfully Arsenal have another right-back prospect to call upon in Brooke Norton-Cuffy.
On Monday Mark McGuinness, who also played for the first-team in pre-season, moved to Cardiff City in a permanent deal.
The centre-back has shown significant signs of improvement over the past couple of years and gained experience on loan at Ipswich Town last season.
Another centre-back has also departed in Zech Medley, who has signed for KV Oostende in Belgium. Medley, who made three competitive first-team appearances for Arsenal, had loan spells with Gillingham and Kilmarnock.
Finally, winger Trae Coyle moved to Swiss side Lausanne-Sport. Like Medley, Coyle was on loan at Gillingham for the first half of last season, but he returned halfway through the season and finished the campaign with Arsenal U23s.
It is anticipated that there could be several more departures from the academy over the next couple of months, with Arsenal having a significant amount of youth players at their disposal.
As is the case with some of the aforementioned youngsters, Arsenal may end up losing some talented prospects along the way, although in some cases it is necessary for players to move on for the sake of their development.
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Jeorge Bird is the author of www.arsenalyouth.wordpress.com Follow him on Twitter @jeorgebird
Will the last member of the youth team set up to leave please remember to turn off the lights on your way out.
If there was a super league, would we have binned the premier league, uefa and other cup competitions? And if so then would the u-23 be still there?
It seems that Oyegoke and him family/agent have made a decision based on the opportunities he sees at Arsenal to progress towards the first team given those in front of him, those around him and who we might still sign? He’s probably made a good choice for his own career, time will tell.
He’s a right back and those who are in front of him made him leave? I’m a bit boggled there.
Well as of right now we have three senior right backs in Chambers, Bellerin and Soares and no Europa League football to spread minutes around. You can see his point!
Not to mention maitland-niled osei-tutu, Swanson, Clarke, alebiosou
Wish him all the best in his career. A sensible move.
Side topic but does anyone know who the next big thing that is getting the coaches excited is from the academy? And by this I mean the U18s and below. I’m aware of Patino, Hutchinson, Lopez, Flores, Catalin and Monlouis.