Arsenal's Academy Rebuild: Signing Man Utd's Ogunneye and Scanlon

Arsenal’s first team has already had a £200million facelift this summer. Now the academy is getting one of its own.

The club are closing in on three new additions for their youth ranks, with Manchester United duo Habeeb Ogunneye and James Scanlon, plus Blackburn Rovers forward Igor Tyjon, all on course to arrive in north London.

Raiding Old Trafford

The Athletic report that Ogunneye, a 20-year-old right-back, has already completed a medical ahead of a free transfer from United. Arsenal are also close to finalising a deal for 19-year-old winger Scanlon, another who will arrive without a fee.

Free, but not cheap.

United are expected to insert significant sell-on clauses into both deals, ensuring they share in any future profit if Arsenal develop and move the players on.

There is a familiar link behind the moves. Both youngsters are known to Arsenal’s new under-21s head coach David Horseman, who spent four months working in United’s academy setup. He now becomes a key figure in reshaping the Gunners’ next generation.

Tyjon breakthrough after stand-off

Arsenal’s pursuit of Igor Tyjon has been more drawn out. The 18-year-old striker has been in dispute with Blackburn Rovers after the Championship side resisted multiple approaches from the Premier League club.

The deadlock has finally cracked.

A breakthrough was reportedly reached last week, with Tyjon undergoing a medical on Friday. Arsenal are understood to have agreed an initial £1million fee, with bonuses and a sell-on clause attached, for the England Under-18 international.

Building a production line, not just a team

This is not just about filling out youth squads. Arsenal’s academy has quietly become one of the most fertile in the country, with Max Dowman, Ethan Nwaneri and Marli Salmon among the latest to edge towards Mikel Arteta’s senior side.

Under the Premier League’s Elite Player Performance Plan, academies are judged not only on how many players reach the first team, but also on how many carve out professional careers elsewhere. That second strand has become a serious revenue stream.

Chelsea set the benchmark, generating more than £400million in transfer fees from academy products. For clubs operating under the old PSR (profit and sustainability) rules, homegrown sales count as pure profit on the balance sheet – a powerful financial lever in an era of tight regulation.

Arsenal clearly want a piece of that model: develop, promote where possible, sell smartly when the time is right.

Senior rebuild already in full swing

While the academy is being reinforced, Arteta and new sporting director Andrea Berta have not been shy with the senior squad either.

Piero Hincapie, Illan Meslier, Christos Tzolis, Bruno Guimaraes and Ezri Konsa have all arrived, costing a combined £200m. It is a statement of intent, but also a sign of a club trying to lock in its core for the coming seasons.

And they are not done.

Plenty more movement is expected in N5 before the window closes at 11pm on September 1, with several fringe players likely to make way. Arsenal are investing heavily at both ends of the pathway.

The question now is simple: how quickly will this next wave, led by Ogunneye, Scanlon and Tyjon, be ready to knock on Arteta’s door?