Crystal Palace are closing in on an agreement to sign Arsenal forward Dan Casey, with talks over a compensation package now advanced. The 17-year-old turned down a professional contract at Arsenal in search of a faster path to senior minutes, and Palace have moved quickly.
The deal would see Palace land one of Hale End’s most productive attackers from last season. For Arsenal, the focus now shifts to securing the right terms and safeguarding future value.
Casey has been at Arsenal since pre-academy level and rose through the age groups with pace. He scored 20 goals and added two assists in 24 matches for the Under-18s last season, while also featuring three times for the Under-21s.
Those numbers reflect a multi-position profile. He can play across the front line or as a number ten, and he presses with energy. Consequently, interest from Premier League clubs never felt far away.
Why Crystal Palace want Dan Casey
Palace view Casey as a direct replacement for Jesse Derry, who rejected professional terms at Selhurst Park to join Chelsea. The pathway at Palace is clear, and the first-team bench has often featured academy graduates under Oliver Glasner.
With Casey turning 18 on Sunday, Palace plan to integrate him quickly into their development squad, while keeping the door open for early cup minutes. The club believes his movement and penalty-area instincts translate well to senior football.
What this means for Arsenal
Arsenal would prefer to retain high-ceiling Hale Enders, but the club also respects a young player’s need for a defined route to senior football. As a result, the negotiations focus on safeguarding value via compensation and potential sell-on mechanisms.
Arsenal’s academy pipeline remains strong, with minutes at Under-21 level shared among several attackers. However, losing a prolific finisher like Casey is still a sting, and the Gunners will want upside protection baked into the final agreement.
Unlike the Derry situation, Palace and Arsenal expect to settle compensation without a tribunal. Even so, Palace recently braced for a multi-million-pound outcome over Derry’s move, which underscores how costly Elite Player Performance Plan exits can become.
Here, both clubs prefer a clean resolution. Therefore, talks have accelerated to finalise a package that reflects Casey’s production and development costs.
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Author Opinion
Palace aim to wrap the deal swiftly, with registration steps to follow once compensation is confirmed. Arsenal will monitor his progress and, if included, any future clauses.
For Casey, this move promises opportunity. For Arsenal, it is a reminder of the market’s appetite for Hale End talent—and the importance of clear first-team pathways.
