Arsenal Sign Liverpool Teenager Vincent Joseph and Eye Osimhen
Arsenal have moved ahead of their Premier League rivals to land one of Liverpool’s most highly regarded youngsters, striking an agreement to sign teenage striker Vincent Joseph while also weighing up a blockbuster move for Victor Osimhen as an alternative to Julian Alvarez.
Arsenal raid Liverpool for prolific teenager
Joseph, just 16, has been a regular source of goals in Liverpool’s academy and has already shown he can do damage both as a central striker and in the No 10 role. Anfield observers describe him as having “scored freely” across the youth levels, and the numbers back that up.
Promoted briefly to Liverpool’s U18s last season, he hit three goals in his first two appearances at that level. On the international stage, he has eight goals in nine games for England U16s, underlining why big clubs have been circling. He remains eligible for Germany as well, giving him a major decision to make further down the line.
Manchester United were linked with a surprise swoop in March, but it is Arsenal who have won the race. According to The Athletic, Joseph allowed his schoolboy contract at Liverpool to run down and chose not to sign a scholarship with the club, opening the door for the Gunners to step in.
Mikel Arteta’s side have reached an agreement with the teenager, and Arsenal and Liverpool are now in talks over a compensation package. If the clubs cannot settle on a fee, the matter will go to a tribunal.
In that case, the Professional Football Compensation Committee (PFCC) would set the amount, taking into account Joseph’s age, his playing record, how long he spent at Liverpool, the status of both clubs, and the terms put on the table by each side. It is the standard mechanism when a player under 24 moves before signing a first professional contract or at the expiry of one.
Inside Arsenal, there is a belief they may have secured a future gem. Joseph has already drawn comparisons to Jamal Musiala in terms of profile and playing style, and Arsenal’s academy staff will now get the chance to shape his next steps.
Elite No 9 hunt: Alvarez, then Osimhen
While Arsenal move aggressively at youth level, the search for a top-tier centre-forward for the first team continues.
The club remain in contact over Julian Alvarez, who is admired as a high-intensity, press-leading forward to compete with a potential arrival such as Viktor Gyokeres. Alvarez, though, is understood to favour a move to Barcelona, leaving Arsenal to keep other options warm.
That is where Victor Osimhen comes into focus.
According to The Telegraph, Arsenal and Galatasaray discussed the Nigeria striker during conversations that also involved Gabriel Martinelli and Ethan Nwaneri. Separate sources indicate Arsenal, Tottenham Hotspur and Manchester United have all held internal talks about whether to move for Osimhen, amid growing claims that his asking price has dropped significantly from the original figure well north of £100 million.
United have since cooled their interest, clearing some of the traffic in the chase and leaving Arsenal and Spurs in a stronger position if they choose to act. The deal would still be huge: even with Galatasaray now more open to negotiating, Osimhen will not come cheap and is expected to demand major wages to make the switch to the Premier League.
Arsenal, though, are clearly operating at both ends of the market. A 16-year-old poacher from Liverpool on one side, a proven, heavyweight international No 9 on the other. Add in their reported status as the club most interested in a Barcelona star, and the picture is obvious.
This is a squad being built for now and for what comes next.
