Jaden Dixon has been snaffled by Arsenal after playing just nine minutes of league football for Stoke City
19:58, 02 Feb 2026
Jaden Dixon is leaving Stoke City.
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Jaden Dixon is leaving Stoke City.(Image: Alex Dodd/Shutterstock)
Jaden Dixon is heading from the Stoke City bench to join Arsenal in a surprise transfer to end the winter window.
The 18-year-old has spent three years at Stoke after being released by Tottenham Hotspur and showed signs of his potential with the under-18s and 21s - to the point where he was summoned to play for England at under-18 and 19s level.
He spoke glowingly about the development he believed he had gained by working under coach Ryan Shawcross, particularly with regard to his positioning and one-on-one situations, and seemed on the cusp of a first team breakthrough at the start of last season.
Dixon had made four first team appearances by the end of August 2024, including two League Cup starts and two cameos in the Championship - but he would only play twice more, both in the League Cup.
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He has been frustrated partly by injury at times this season but then he stayed on the bench in January when spaces opened up due to injuries to Junior Tchamadeu, Ben Gibson and Ben Wilmot, as well as a suspension for Bosun Lawal.
There had been talk of a loan exit in the last three windows but that never materialised - but now Arsenal have come calling in the final stages of deadline day.
Gareth Owen, Stoke's former academy director, told Radio Stoke: "I've probably got a biased opinion about Jaden. I was heavily involved in him coming to the club in the first place when he left Tottenham. It'll be interesting how he handles being an ex-Tottenham player at Arsenal if it does happen.
"However, he's one of the best centre-halves in the country at his age group and England say so. He has got the ability deserving to be at that level.
"He hasn't quite done it in the Championship at first team level, he hasn't been able to force his way through, but he's certainly one with bags of potential and hopefully it works out for him and he goes on to have the career that a number of staff think he will have. Going from Stoke to Arsenal is a big tick for the academy as well."
He added: "There are a number of different factors with transfers: player wishes, parent wishes, situations, promiise of first team minutes.
"You're going to one of the biggest clubs in the land if you move to Arsenal, Sol (Sidibe) has moved to a massive club on the continent, searching a little bit for first team football. There was a nod to PSR, 100 per cent, which was alluded to as well.
"Whether this is that or if Jaden has got frustrated by not playing or if Arsenal see him as the next big thing or if Jaden is moving to Arsenal as a stepping stone to get a loan back to the Championship, which happens... there are all sorts of different reasons why players move on.
"I should say that those two are playing in the England national team, Sol has been captain. Jaden has played centre-back and right-back in the same team. They are players with massive potential.
"Would I say they are ready to play 46 games in the Championship this season? No I wouldn't - and that's me speaking as one of their biggest fans. But they are two players with the long-term in mind. "
Radio Stoke commentator Mark Elliott picked up the profit and sustainability theme. Reports of the fee vary from £500,000 to £3.2m and is likely to be announced as undisclosed.
He said: "This is Sol Sidibe all over again. It seemed that someone seemingly had to go if Stoke were going to add two players. We know that Stoke's limbo under the PSR bar is quite close. If you sell an academy product you bank the whole fee now. If you sign a player, you amortise it over the length of the contract.
"It means if you sell one player for £3m now, it's £3m in your accounts. If you sign a player for £3m on a three-year contract, it's £1m off your accounts now. It's maths, it's accounting and it's quite sad. You're encouraged to sell your academy products for accounting reasons more than footballing reasons. If you sell a player who you are still liable for, who has time on their contract, the profit is less.
"It's interesting that it's Arsenal. That's a crowded room of centre-backs! You sell a player from a club where he is more likely to play to a club where you would think he is far less likely to play anytime soon if ever. It's this young player cattle trading that is encouraged by the regulations and rules as they are.
"Stoke don't need to sell a player because they haven't got the money, they need to sell a player because of the rules imposed upon them. That, to me, isn't why you should be selling players."
Dixon has said his farewells.
He wrote on social media: "My time at Stoke has come to an end. I want to say a huge thank you to all the coaches that have supported me over the years. Thank you Stoke City for a time I’ll never forget."
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