Arsenal are reportedly set to complete the signing of highly-rated defender Elijah Upson after the teenager put pen to paper on his contract with the Gunners.
Upson has agreed to join Arsenal following the expiry of his contract with north London rivals Tottenham Hotspur, with an official announcement expected in the coming days.
The Gunners are understood to be paying no more than a training compensation fee to secure the young centre-back.
Upson had been offered the opportunity to extend his stay at Tottenham but instead decided to pursue the next stage of his development elsewhere.
The defender attracted considerable interest before choosing Arsenal, with Chelsea, Manchester City and Everton reportedly among the Premier League clubs monitoring his situation.
Bayern Munich, Borussia Dortmund, Bayer Leverkusen and Monaco were also credited with interest in taking the teenager abroad.
However, Upson visited Arsenal’s Sobha Realty Training Centre with his family for talks before deciding that a move across north London represented his preferred option.
His arrival continues Arsenal’s efforts to recruit highly-rated young players for their academy following recent changes behind the scenes at Hale End.
Upson was a prominent member of Tottenham’s youth setup during the 2025-26 campaign before speculation surrounding his future affected his involvement during the closing months of the season.
The centre-back featured in six of Tottenham’s seven UEFA Youth League matches and started 13 of their opening 16 Under-18 Premier League fixtures.
He also stepped up to represent the Under-21 side during the campaign, demonstrating his progress through Tottenham’s academy structure.
Upson has additionally received recognition at international level with England.
He made appearances for the England Under-18s and was selected for the country’s squad for the Under-17 World Cup, although injury ultimately forced him to withdraw from the tournament.
His move to Arsenal also carries an intriguing family connection.
Upson is the son of former Arsenal defender Matthew Upson, who joined the Gunners from Luton Town in 1997 and made 57 senior appearances during his time in north London.
The younger Upson will now look to forge his own path at the club after choosing Arsenal despite significant competition for his signature.
The Gunners have continued to place considerable emphasis on recruiting and developing elite young talent, with Hale End graduates Bukayo Saka, Myles Lewis-Skelly and Ethan Nwaneri demonstrating the potential pathway into the senior team.
Upson is expected to initially link up with Arsenal’s academy sides as he continues his development.
With his contract now reportedly signed, only official confirmation remains before the defender formally begins the next chapter of his career on the other side of the north London rivalry.