Elijah Upson, the 18-year-old centre-back and son of former England international Matthew Upson, has left Tottenham Hotspur's academy to join arch-rivals Arsenal. The move was reported by Fabrizio Romano on Saturday, with the deal expected to be officially announced shortly.
Background of the Transfer
In June, it was announced that Upson had turned down a professional contract with Tottenham, ending an 11-year stint at the club's academy. Several top clubs expressed interest, including Chelsea, Manchester City, Everton, Borussia Dortmund, Bayern Munich, Bayer Leverkusen, and Monaco. Ultimately, Upson chose Arsenal after visiting their London Colney training ground and consulting with his family, including his father Matthew.
Compensation and Comparisons
Because Upson is under 24, Tottenham will be entitled to compensation from Arsenal. The transfer has drawn comparisons to Sol Campbell's controversial move from Tottenham to Arsenal in 2001, though Campbell moved as a free agent under different circumstances.
Matthew Upson's Legacy
Matthew Upson, also a centre-back, spent six years at Arsenal, winning the Premier League title in 2002. He later played for Crystal Palace, Birmingham City, and West Ham. He earned 21 caps for England and was part of the 2010 World Cup squad, scoring in the 4-1 defeat to Germany.
Elijah's Prospects at Arsenal
It remains uncertain whether Elijah can break into Arsenal's first team, especially with manager Mikel Arteta seeking a new centre-back this summer. William Saliba is expected to miss the start of the season due to a back injury that worsened during the World Cup. Arteta has been linked with Ezri Konsa, but Aston Villa's high valuation may be a stumbling block. The club is also reportedly interested in former player Konstantinos Mavropanos and Chelsea target Maxence Lacroix.
