Arsenal Pursue James Scanlon and Secure Ogunneye Deal
Arsenal are preparing a double raid on Manchester United’s academy, with James Scanlon the next name in their sights after striking a deal for Habeeb Ogunneye.
The push is deliberate, not opportunistic. Arsenal have sharpened their focus on youth recruitment, and Scanlon, a 19-year-old winger with senior international experience, has moved quickly to the top of their list.
Scanlon chase gathers pace
Talks with United over Scanlon are ongoing, with Arsenal hopeful a fee can be thrashed out swiftly. The expectation inside the club is that the situation could move fast over the next 72 hours.
On the player’s side, there is little concern. Arsenal believe personal terms will be straightforward, with Scanlon understood to be keen on a switch to north London.
Born in Leicester, the teenager has taken an unusual route to prominence. He spent the second half of last season on loan at Swindon Town in League Two and already has 24 senior caps for Gibraltar, qualifying through his mother. That blend of lower-league grounding and international exposure has only strengthened Arsenal’s conviction.
This is not a scattergun move. Two key figures have driven Arsenal’s pursuit.
Chris Perkins, who arrived at the club in 2023 as a professional development phase scout, has tracked Scanlon for years. Perkins previously spent six years as head of academy recruitment at Derby County, where Scanlon came through the age groups. His long-standing belief in the winger has carried weight in the current push.
Then came a second, powerful endorsement. David Horseman, confirmed earlier this week as Arsenal’s new Under-21 head coach, has also strongly recommended Scanlon. Horseman joined Arsenal a year ago as elite player development coach, taking charge of the Under-19s in the UEFA Youth League and the Under-21s in the EFL Trophy. Before that, he had a short spell at United, where he worked directly with Scanlon and came away impressed.
When two voices that close to the player align, clubs tend to listen. Arsenal have.
Ogunneye deal lined up
While Scanlon talks continue, the Ogunneye move is already far more advanced.
Arsenal have agreed a deal to sign the 20-year-old right-back from United, with a medical scheduled for Thursday and an official announcement expected over the weekend.
Ogunneye, who was named in several United first-team matchday squads under Erik ten Hag during the 2023/24 campaign, spent the first half of last season on loan at Newport County in League Two before being recalled in January. That spell added senior minutes to a profile United had already nudged towards the fringes of their senior setup.
He will join Arsenal on a free transfer, but United have protected their interests with a 40 per cent sell-on clause inserted into the agreement.
The plan at Arsenal is clear. Ogunneye will initially link up with the Under-21s, but he will also train with Mikel Arteta’s first team, dropping into a pathway that has already pushed several youngsters closer to Premier League action.
Two young defenders from Old Trafford. One deal agreed, another edging forward. Arsenal’s academy rebuild is no longer a quiet project in the background; it is starting to reshape the market around it.
