Arsenal have sealed the signing of St Johnstone talent Callan Hamill, with the 17-year-old defender arriving in a six-figure deal to bolster the Gunners’ youth setup.
Hamill is highly regarded in Scottish football circles and becomes the latest teenager to join Arsenal’s long-term development pathway. The North London club have been tracking him for some time, and they’ve now moved quickly to finalise the transfer ahead of the 2025/26 season.
🚨 Confirmed: Arsenal have completed the signing of 17 year-old St Johnstone defender, Callan Hamill, for a reported six-figure fee. ✅✍️ pic.twitter.com/uk0S8Bs1gp
— DailyAFC (@DailyAFC) July 16, 2025
Callan Hamill joins Hale End setup
Hamill made his first debut for St Johnstone at the end of the 2024/25 campaign against Dundee at McDiarmid Park and Arsenal’s recruitment staff saw enough to move early and bring the teenager to London, where he will initially join the under-18 squad.
Hamill is a left-footed central defender with good positional instincts and composure in possession. He has represented Scotland at youth level and has been praised for his physical development and ability to read the game at a high level for his age.
Alistair Stevenson who is the head of academy at St Johnstone said:
“Callan was a terrific member of our academy and did exceptionally well. He has had international recognition and has earned everything that has come his way.
“He did himself proud when he made his first team debut for the club and showed that he can have a really bright future in football.
“Everyone wishes Callan all the very best at Arsenal. We’ll be keeping a close eye on his progress.”
Arsenal are doubling down on youth-level recruitment
This signing continues Arsenal’s recent focus on investing in British academy talent. The club has made a concerted effort to bring in high-potential players from Scotland, Ireland, and the rest of the UK. Hamill follows recent moves for Brayden Clarke and other promising additions across the under-16 and under-18 age groups as we also see the Gunners trying to hijack Liverpool’s pursuit of Will Smith.
While Kieran Tierney arrived at Arsenal as a senior starter at Celtic and Jack Wilshere came through the club’s own academy, Hamill represents a different model. Arsenal are now building depth by signing players even earlier, with the aim of shaping them into future first-team regulars under Mikel Arteta’s watchful eye.
What do I think about him?
Hamill may be an under-the-radar arrival for now, but Arsenal’s youth recruitment team believe he has the attributes to go far. He is still only 17, so the Scottish defender will need that time and patience, but we know that the structure at Hale End will allow him a genuine chance to grow. And this is another calculated step from the club in building for both now and the years ahead.
