Arsenal pursue three teenage talents as youth overhaul gathers pace

Arsenal are pursuing at least three teenage signings this summer as the club mounts a concerted effort to revamp an underperforming academy, with a fresh bid for Leicester City winger Jeremy Monga expected after the Foxes rejected the Gunners’ opening offer.

Monga, 16, made 27 Championship appearances for Leicester last season as the club were relegated to League One. Arsenal are confident the player wants to move to the Emirates Stadium despite competition from Newcastle and Brentford, though any deal is likely to be delayed until after 10 July, when Monga turns 17 and his first professional contract at the King Power Stadium becomes active. Leicester are in no rush to sell and will only agree terms once their valuation is met.

Simultaneously, Arsenal are negotiating a move for Georgia U21 international Andria Bartishvili, a 17-year-old attacking midfielder also attracting interest from Juventus. Arsenal recruitment chief Maurizio Micheli is understood to be central to the club’s pursuit, with both clubs in discussions with the player’s representative Giorgi Jugeli. Bartishvili, currently on loan at Iberia 1999 from Kolkheti 1913 until the end of 2026, can operate across multiple positions and has impressed with his dribbling, vision and long-range shooting. Post-Brexit regulations mean he could not join Arsenal until his 18th birthday on 30 March.

The third target is Elijah Upson, a teenager set to leave Tottenham when his scholarship deal expires at the end of the month. Arsenal are ready to move quickly, though rival clubs are also monitoring the situation.

The recruitment drive reflects significant internal concern about the state of Arsenal’s youth setup. Both the U21s and U18s endured poor seasons, while the U19s finished 33rd out of 36 teams in the UEFA Youth League group stage — below the likes of Pafos FC and Kazakh side FC Kairat. Academy Director Per Mertesacker has since stepped down after 15 years at the club, and U21 manager Max Porter has departed to join Stoke City’s coaching staff under Mark Robins.

Arsenal’s willingness to invest in younger talent signals a structural reset at academy level, even as the first team continues to compete at the top of the Premier League.