Arsenal have confirmed that highly-rated duo Ethan Nwaneri and Myles Lewis-Skelly are among 13 youngsters to sign scholarship terms with the club.
The 2023 intake will formally move from Hale End to London Colney to continue their development under Jack Wilshere as they compete for places in the under-18s and above.
Nwaneri’s decision to stay on the books represents a coup for the club after Chelsea and Manchester City attempted to lure him away.
The midfielder became Arsenal’s youngest-ever player when he made his debut at just 15 years and 181 days old during the closing stages of last season’s 3-0 win away at Brentford.
He was also a mainstay for the under-18s who made a run to the final of the FA Youth Cup and featured in Premier League 2 for the under-21s.
It’s claimed that the Gunners have made him the highest-earning academy player in the club’s history and that he’ll sign a professional contract when he turns 17 in March 2024.
Like Nwaneri, Lewis-Skelly, is an England under-17 international who is highly rated by the Arsenal hierarchy.
Both have started pre-season training with Mikel Arteta’s first team squad and will be hoping to be included in the training camp at adidas HQ in Germany.
Jakai Bascoe-Fisher, Dan Casey, Reece Clairmont, Louie Copley, Ayden Heaven, Cam’ron Ismail, Max Kuczynski, Daniel Oyetunde, Zac Shuaib and Will Sweet are the other scholars.
Per Mertesacker, Academy Manager, was quick to wish the starlets all the best: “A huge congratulations to all of our new first-year scholars. This is the next step in their exciting journey and I’m personally looking forward to witnessing their continued progression with us.
“As they start this new chapter, our Academy colleagues will continue to work alongside each player to support and guide whenever they need us. We want to make them not only the best footballers they can be, but also the best people that they can be, and develop them all into Strong Young Gunners.
“This is a really promising group of players and we all look forward to seeing their continued development with us.”
Well done Edu and team!
I’m so happy we managed to secure him and MLS. Here’s to their development and eventual first team inclusion.
A good decision but arsenal FC should stop overpaying young players
Well, that will naturally come once you are the first choice for the players. Hopefully in a few years with some trophies.
*Football should stop overpaying
youngALL players. But it won’t…The world should start taxing the fuck out of billionaires (owners of football). But it won’t…
taxing billionaires is a nice way of saying ‘guillotine’
BFG quietly doing a fantastic job for the Club.
when will jack wilshere start picking barnaby stingwing
Will Sweet !!!