Arsenal have agreed a deal to sign Tottenham Hotspur sensation Elijah Upson on a free transfer, according to Fabrizio Romano.
The Gunners have had a busy summer window already, bringing in Illan Meslier and agreeing a move to sign Christos Tzolis from Club Brugge, while Leandro Trossard has departed the club to join Besiktas following their Premier League title win.
The club are also accelerating their move to sign Aston Villa star Morgan Rogers following his participation at the World Cup, but they also have one eye on the future, and Arsenal have now sealed a surprise swoop to take a top talent away from a rival.
Arsenal Sign Agreement for Upson
According to Romano, Arsenal and Upson have now signed an agreement for the 18-year-old central defender to move across north London to swap white for red.
Upson, who is a former 100m sprint champion, turned down a new contract with Spurs this summer and has now penned a long-term agreement with the Premier League champions, with a formal announcement pending.
Spurs had rated Upson highly internally, however, with their new win-now approach in place, the pathway for the teenager was limited for the upcoming campaign.
Tottenham have already signed Marcos Senesi and Jan Paul van Hecke in central defence this summer, adding to Micky Van de Ven, Kevin Danso, and Cristian Romero as options at the back. However, captain Romero is expected to leave the club before the window closes amid interest from Inter Milan, Barcelona, and more.
Arsenal Building for the Future
It's well known that Arsenal have got one of the best squads across Europe, but they also have a sensational academy that has churned out top talents for years.
The likes of Bukayo Saka, Myles Lewis-Skelly, Ethan Nwaneri, and Max Dowman are current members of the first-team at the Emirates who have come through at Hale End, while other youngsters like Marli Salmon have had a taste of action too over the last 12 months.
It shows that there is a clear pathway for young talent to get opportunities, and Upson now has the opportunity to join that illustrious list of talent.