Arsenal have agreed a deal with Salford City for the signing of 17-year-old striker Will Wright, with the forward set to join the Gunners’ academy setup ahead of the new season. The club will pay an initial fee of £200,000, with performance-based add-ons included in the agreement.
Wright, one of the more highly rated prospects in Salford’s system, attracted attention from multiple Premier League clubs over the past few months. Arsenal have moved quickly to get the deal done by hijacking the transfer from under Liverpool’s noses as Per Mertesacker his academy recruitment team pushing to finalise the transfer before the start of pre-season youth fixtures.
The forward will initially join up with the U18s but is expected to feature for the U21s throughout the season if he impresses early on. Sources around Hale End believe he brings a sharp goal instinct and physical maturity that belies his age. Arsenal view him as someone who can grow into a future first-team consideration, although there is no rush on that front as the focus is on development.
This deal fits Arsenal’s wider strategy of bolstering the academy with high-upside domestic talent before it breaks through at senior level elsewhere. With players like Ethan Nwaneri and Myles Lewis-Skelly already pushing toward first-team involvement, the club want to ensure that every age group has enough depth and competition for places. Wright’s arrival ticks that box.
Arsenal continue to invest in future talent
While the focus remains on headline names like Viktor Gyokeres and Rodrygo at first-team level, Arsenal have not lost sight of the long-term project. Signings like Wright may not grab the back pages, but they are just as important to the club’s identity and sustainability. It is another smart, low-risk move that strengthens the pipeline.
