Arsenal Targets Manchester United Academy Stars for Youth Revamp

Arsenal are closing in on a double raid of Manchester United’s academy as they step up an aggressive push to refresh their youth ranks.

Talks are advancing over 19-year-old winger James Scanlon, with a deal for right-back Habeeb Ogunneye already in place.

Arsenal’s youth reset

Behind the scenes at London Colney, the brief is clear: bring in high-upside talent and rebuild the pathway beneath Mikel Arteta’s first team. Scanlon has quickly moved to the top of that list.

Born in Leicester but capped 24 times at senior level by Gibraltar, the teenager caught the eye during a loan spell at Swindon Town in League Two in the second half of last season. His international experience at such a young age, combined with regular senior football, has convinced Arsenal he is ready for a bigger stage.

Arsenal do not expect personal terms to be a stumbling block. Scanlon is understood to be keen on a move to north London, and there is growing confidence that an agreement on his side is a formality.

The real work is with United. Negotiations over a fee are ongoing, but there is optimism at Arsenal that the deal could move quickly, with hope of significant progress in the next 72 hours.

The key figures driving the move

This is not a scattergun swoop. Two voices inside Arsenal have been especially influential in pushing for Scanlon.

Chris Perkins, who arrived at the club in 2023 as a professional development phase scout, has followed Scanlon’s progress for years. Perkins spent six years as head of academy recruitment at Derby County, overseeing the system while Scanlon came through the age groups. He knows the winger’s profile better than most and has been a long-time admirer.

Then there is David Horseman. Appointed earlier this week as Arsenal’s new Under-21s head coach, Horseman had already been working at the club for a year as elite player development coach, leading the U19s in the UEFA Youth League and the U21s in the EFL Trophy.

Before that, he had a brief spell at Manchester United. During that stint he worked directly with Scanlon and came away impressed, strongly recommending him once he settled into his role in north London. His endorsement has carried real weight as Arsenal reshape their youth strategy.

Ogunneye deal lined up

Scanlon may not be the only arrival from Old Trafford.

Arsenal are also set to bring in 20-year-old right-back Habeeb Ogunneye, turning their interest into a double swoop on United’s academy. Ogunneye has already brushed the edges of the first-team scene at United, having been named in several matchday squads under Erik ten Hag during the 2023/24 campaign.

Last season he went on loan to Newport County in League Two, gaining senior minutes in the fourth tier before United recalled him in January.

A move to the Emirates Stadium is now on the verge of being completed. Standard Sport understands Arsenal have scheduled a medical for Ogunneye on Thursday, with an official announcement expected over the weekend.

He will join on a free transfer, though United have secured a 40 per cent sell-on clause, a clear sign they still rate his long-term potential. At Arsenal, he will link up initially with the Under-21s but also train with Arteta’s first team, sitting on the edge of senior involvement.

Two young defenders, one highly capped teenage winger, and a recruitment team that clearly knows what – and who – it wants. Arsenal’s next generation is being assembled with purpose, and it is Manchester United’s academy that is feeling the tug.