Arsenal are closing in on a deal to sign Vincent Joseph from Liverpool. As reported by The Athletic, an agreement is in place between Arsenal and the England youth international after he did not sign scholarship terms at Anfield this summer following the expiration of his schoolboy registration contract.
Fee Settlement and Tribunal Possibility
The Gunners and Liverpool are currently discussing a fee settlement for the 16-year-old striker. Due to Joseph being under the age of 24 and not signing a professional contract with Liverpool, if the two clubs cannot reach an agreement over a fee, it will be decided by a tribunal.
Joseph's Youth Career
Joseph has scored eight goals in nine appearances for England's under-16 side and played for Liverpool in the under-18 Premier League last season, scoring three goals in two appearances.
Arsenal's Academy Recruitment Push
This deal is further proof of Arsenal continuing their push to recruit the best young talent at academy level, having won the race - ahead of Liverpool - to sign teenage goalkeeper Phoenix Blayney. According to the youngster's father, it is expected that he will sign a pre-contract when he joins up with the Gunners this summer and then put pen to paper on professional terms when he turns 17 in November 2027.
"Everything has been agreed with Arsenal, he just needs to sign the contract," Alan Blayney told the Belfast Telegraph earlier in the summer. "When he's 17, he will sign a professional contract. It's done and dusted and a pre-contract will be signed when the time is right."
Arsenal also set to complete the signing of Cardiff City youngster Axel Donczew. Donczew became the youngest player to ever represent Cardiff's first-team when he made his debut against Newport County in the EFL Trophy on October 25, aged 15 years and 234 days.
