Arsenal confirm next summer signing as 18-year-old rejects Tottenham for Mikel Arteta

Arsenal person confirmed the signing of 18-year-old centre-back Elijah Upson pursuing his exit from Tottenham Hotspur.

The 2008-born defender - who is the lad of erstwhile Arsenal Premier League-winning centre-back Matthew Upson - volition articulation up with the Gunners' academy squad but has penned a nonrecreational contract.

Elijah Upson rejected the accidental to motion pro presumption astatine Tottenham successful favour of joining their arch-rivals, wherever helium volition beryllium successful contention to bid with the archetypal squad and marque sporadic appearances successful cupful competitions.

The erstwhile Spurs protege played 34 times for the Lilywhites' Under-18 side, portion besides making six UEFA Youth League appearances and earning 2 outings for the Under-21s.

Speaking to the authoritative Arsenal website aft his accomplishment was confirmed, Upson reflected connected pursuing successful the footsteps of his father, who was besides conscionable 18 erstwhile helium moved to Highbury successful 1997.

Arsenal corroborate Elijah Upson signing pursuing Tottenham rejection

"It's a large feeling, truly arrogant to beryllium here," Upson said. "Really bully to person each my household and everyone astir it, it's been a large experience.

"My dada signed present astir the aforesaid clip arsenic me, it's large to person idiosyncratic with a bully acquisition of the place. But astatine the aforesaid time, I'm decidedly looking guardant to gathering my ain estimation and getting started.

"When I met the guys present precocious and met each the squad and staff, it conscionable seemed similar a truly bully environment. That was astir apt the biggest factor, an situation wherever you consciousness you tin hopefully larn and get amended arsenic a person.

Asked astir his standout attributes and what Arsenal fans tin expect to spot from him, Upson added:  "Aerially, I'm rather good, it's decidedly a spot of mine.

"Obviously, I'm a defender, but if I tin instrumentality that into an attacking broadside of things, past that's besides truly bully and an country I tin usage that prime arsenic well. 

"I'd [also] accidental I've decidedly worked hard successful presumption of my passing scope and having a good, longer passing range. I'd accidental that could beryllium a bully spot of mine; I'm looking guardant to making those qualities better."

Upson - who has won 2 caps for England astatine Under-18 level - follows Illan Meslier and Piero Hincapie to the Emirates arsenic Arsenal's adjacent imperishable signing this summer.

The teen has been allocated the fig 57 shirt, which was erstwhile worn by Cesc Fabregas during his archetypal Arsenal play successful 2003-04.

Arsenal motion Elijah Upson: Who's adjacent for Mikel Arteta?

Upson is 1 for the future, Meslier is simply a backup goalkeeper and Hincapie already played a important relation successful 2025-26; Arsenal fans are yet to witnesser a caller marquee signing astatine the Emirates this summer.

That whitethorn soon change, however, arsenic the Gunners are reportedly successful nonstop talks to motion Bruno Guimaraes from Newcastle United, having stepped up their involvement successful the Brazil international.

Sporting manager Andrea Berta is besides said to beryllium in interaction with Julian Alvarez, arsenic Arsenal measurement up alternatives to Morgan Rogers pursuing quality of Chelsea's £117m agreement.