Arsenal have beat Premier League rivals Manchester City among others in the pursuit of teenage midfielder Kyran Thompson from West Ham United.
Others such as Chelsea, Newcastle United and Tottenham Hotspur were involved in the race as well but the Gunners stole a march on their rivals to secure Thompson’s signature.
As per reports from The Secret Scout, Kyran Thompson was all set to join Tottenham back in July before Arsenal made a move for him. The player and his representatives were shown the projects of Newcastle United and the Gunners, with the camp opting for the latter after proper consideration. The key offer in the deal was a full-scholarship, as well as a £1.1 million fee to West Ham.
As a result of the move, Thompson will now link up with the rest of the Arsenal youth squad at Hale End as the move has been cleared by the Premier League as well.
It’s taken Kyran Thompson absolutely no time to get comfortable at Arsenal ~ some clips vs Birmingham U17’s this weekend https://t.co/tTiEkA48kS pic.twitter.com/lqPatgknYK
— The Next Wave (@_TheNextWave_) October 6, 2024
A background on youth sensation Kyran Thompson
Kyran Thompson was part of the Kent Elite Team scouting circuit at a very young age, long before joining West Ham. He then came up with the Hammers and will now look to establish himself within the youth ranks at Hale End.
Thompson is a versatile player who can play various attacking roles such as on the wings and as a number 10. The Gunners’ philosophy of attacking football catered towards exciting attacking midfielders convinced the player and his camp of the move. They bought into the project and believe what they offer are the best conditions for the player’s development.
Now, despite the departure of youth coach Jack Wilshere, Thompson will look to make a mark early on in his time with Arsenal. He will look to follow in the footsteps of fellow academy player Max Dowman, who made history in the UEFA Youth League by scoring aged just 14 years.
With the club famous for its rich history of promoting youth, it remains to be seen how Kyran Thompson gets on in north London.