Elijah Upson, the 18-year-old centre-back and son of former Arsenal and England defender Matthew Upson, has turned down a professional contract offer from Tottenham Hotspur to join Arsenal's academy. The highly-rated defender, whose scholarship terms at Tottenham expired on June 30, 2026, will now follow in his father's footsteps at the north London club.
Reasons for the Move
Upson had been part of Tottenham's academy system for several years but was reportedly unconvinced about his route to the first team. His path was further obstructed by Tottenham's summer signings of centre-backs Marcos Senesi and Jan Paul van Hecke. Additionally, the departure of academy transition coach Stuart Lewis in July, who was responsible for helping youth players progress to the senior squad, may have influenced his decision.
According to sources, Upson rejected offers from several top clubs, including Chelsea and Manchester City, as well as interest from European clubs, after visiting Arsenal's training ground with his family.
Arsenal's Youth Pathway
Arsenal's academy has seen several graduates feature in the first team recently. Notably, 16-year-old winger Max Dowman made a sensational impact, while Marli Salmon, Andre Harriman-Annous, and Myles Lewis-Skelly have also earned semi-regular appearances under manager Mikel Arteta. This strong record of promoting youth likely swayed Upson's decision.
Family Legacy
Matthew Upson, Elijah's father, played 57 times for Arsenal over six years, with loan spells at Nottingham Forest, Crystal Palace, and Reading. He retired in 2016 with 21 England caps. Elijah now aims to emulate his father's career at the Emirates.
