Mikel Arteta wants to trust youth at Arsenal.placeholder image
Mikel Arteta wants to trust youth at Arsenal. | Arsenal FC via Getty Images
Mikel Arteta continues to see Arsenal invest in the future as they look to sign future stars.
Arsenal are looking to follow the early success of Piero Hincapie by agreeing a deal in principle to bring Ecuadorian twins Edwin and Holger Quintero to the Emirates Stadium from the Gunners defender’s former club Independiente Del Valle.
It’s reported that the brothers will make the move to London when they turn 18 in August 2027, according to ESPN. The Quinteros are 16 years old are in the capital this week to complete formalities, which include signing their contracts. A formal announcement is expected at a future date.
The fee to be paid by Arsenal is unknown but the move comes as the club continues to look to the future after confirmation in October of a deal for 16-year-old Shamrock Rovers man Victor Ozhianvuna. The midfielder will join the Gunners in January 2027, when he turns 18.
Arsenal agree deal in principle for Independiente twins
Independiente have earned a reputation for scouting the top Ecuadorian talent, having produced Chelsea midfielder Moises Caicedo, as well as Hincapie. The latter moved from Independiente to Talleres in 2020 and then to Bayer Leverkusen in 2021.
Hincapie is on a season long loan to Arsenal but the Premier League side have the option to make the move permanent come the end of the season. Arsenal are said to have beaten competition from ‘a host of top clubs across Europe’ to sign the Quintero twins, who had been tracked for over a year. Edwin Quintero is a winger who is said to have drawn comparisons to Neymar with Holger more of an attacking midfielder.
Mikel Arteta on youth development
Mikel Arteta is keen to push youth development at Arsenal with 15 year olds Max Dowman and Marli Salmon on the fringes of the first team in pre-season and during the campaign. Speaking about his use of youth in the summer, Arteta said: "We want to get as much talent as we possibly can from the academy and bring it up to the first team.
"This is a beautiful context for them to get involved. The way they adapt at that age, I could not do - but I think this generation goes faster. They are ready a little bit earlier. We don't have to rush. Make sure we manage the right steps and the right expectations for all of them, and then let's see what they demand."
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