Arsenal Targets Manchester United Duo for Academy Rebuild
Arsenal’s first team has already had a £200million facelift this summer. Now the academy is getting its own overhaul – and two youngsters from Manchester United are at the heart of it.
The club are closing in on three new additions for their youth ranks, with deals progressing for United duo Habeeb Ogunneye and James Scanlon, and Blackburn Rovers forward Igor Tyjon.
Raiding United’s youth set-up
The Athletic report that Ogunneye, a 20-year-old right-back, has already undergone a medical ahead of a move from Old Trafford. Arsenal are also close to finalising a deal for 19-year-old winger Scanlon.
Both transfers are expected to be free, but United will protect their investment with significant sell-on clauses written into the agreements. No fee now, a slice of any profit later – a familiar model in the modern academy market.
These aren’t blind punts. Both players are well known to Arsenal’s new under-21s head coach David Horseman, who spent four months working inside United’s academy and will have a clear idea of what he’s getting.
Tyjon chase nears conclusion
Arsenal’s pursuit of Blackburn’s Igor Tyjon has dragged on for months, but the stalemate has finally cracked.
The 18-year-old striker, an England Under-18 international, had been in dispute with the Championship club after they repeatedly resisted approaches from north London. A breakthrough was reached last week, and Tyjon then underwent a medical on Friday.
Arsenal have agreed to pay an initial £1million, with bonuses and a sell-on clause included in the package. For a teenager yet to kick a ball in the Premier League, it’s a statement of intent.
Building a production line – and a balance sheet
Under Mikel Arteta, Arsenal have already showcased a pathway for elite youngsters. Ethan Nwaneri, Max Dowman and Marli Salmon are among those to have tasted first-team football, underlining the value of a thriving academy at London Colney.
But this is no longer just about finding the next homegrown starter. Since the introduction of the Premier League’s Elite Player Performance Plan, academies have also become engines of value – producing players who either make it at the club or generate income elsewhere.
Chelsea have set the benchmark, banking over £400million in fees from academy graduates. Those homegrown sales count as pure profit under the old PSR (profit and sustainability) rules, a crucial lever for any club trying to spend aggressively at the top end of the market.
Arsenal’s move for Ogunneye, Scanlon and Tyjon fits that landscape perfectly: low-cost, high-upside signings with built-in resale potential.
Senior squad already transformed – and more to come
While the academy is being reshaped, the senior squad has not stood still.
Arteta and sporting director Andrea Berta have driven a major window, bringing in Piero Hincapie, Illan Meslier, Christos Tzolis, Bruno Guimaraes and Ezri Konsa for a combined outlay of around £200m. The spine has been reinforced, depth has been added, and competition for places has sharpened.
Yet Arsenal’s business is nowhere near done. With the window open until 11pm on September 1, more movement is expected in N5, particularly on the outgoing side as several players deemed surplus to requirements prepare to move on.
The first team is being tooled up for a title push. The academy is being stocked with fresh talent from rival clubs. If Arsenal get this blend right, the impact won’t just be felt this season – it could shape the club’s next decade.
