Arsenal Academy Rebuild: Man Utd Pair Ogunneye and Scanlon Join

Arsenal’s senior squad has already had its £200million facelift this summer. Now the academy is getting one of its own – and Manchester United are right at the heart of it.

The club are closing in on three new arrivals for their youth ranks, with United youngsters Habeeb Ogunneye and James Scanlon set to head to north London, along with Blackburn Rovers forward Igor Tyjon.

It is a quietly aggressive play in a part of the market Arsenal believe can define their next decade.

Raiding United’s youth ranks

According to The Athletic, 20-year-old right-back Ogunneye has already completed a medical ahead of a move from Old Trafford. The deal is expected to be a free transfer, but with a significant sell-on clause inserted in United’s favour.

On the opposite flank, 19-year-old winger Scanlon is also understood to be close to signing. His move is set to follow a similar structure: no fee up front, but a sizeable share of any future sale going back to United.

These are not blind punts. Both players are well known to Arsenal’s new under-21 head coach David Horseman, who spent four months working in United’s academy and has first-hand knowledge of their profiles and potential. Arsenal are betting that familiarity, plus their own development environment at London Colney, can turn that potential into value – on the pitch or in the market.

Tyjon breakthrough after stand-off

The Manchester raid is only part of the story. Arsenal are also on the verge of finally landing Igor Tyjon from Blackburn Rovers after a drawn-out pursuit.

The 18-year-old striker, an England Under-18 international, had been in dispute with Blackburn, who resisted several approaches from Arsenal. The stalemate dragged on, but a breakthrough was reached last week and Tyjon underwent a medical on Friday.

Arsenal have reportedly agreed to pay an initial £1million, with further bonuses and a sell-on clause included. It is a relatively modest outlay by Premier League standards, but one that fits the club’s broader strategy: invest early, develop hard, and keep the upside.

A clear academy strategy

This is not just about stocking the under-21s. Arsenal’s academy has become a genuine production line for Mikel Arteta’s first team, and the pathway is visible.

Max Dowman, Ethan Nwaneri and Marli Salmon are among the latest to step into senior matchday squads, underlining why young players and their agents increasingly view north London as fertile ground.

Yet in the era of the Premier League’s Elite Player Performance Plan, academies are judged on more than just homegrown stars in their own first team. They are also judged on careers built elsewhere – and the money those careers bring back.

Chelsea have set the benchmark, generating more than £400million in transfer fees from academy products. Every homegrown sale counts as pure profit under the old PSR (profit and sustainability) rules, and while the regulations may evolve, that basic financial logic will not. Arsenal are clearly intent on closing that gap.

Senior rebuild already in full swing

While the academy work gathers pace, the first team has not been neglected. Arteta and sporting director Andrea Berta have already delivered a powerful summer of recruitment.

Piero Hincapie, Illan Meslier, Christos Tzolis, Bruno Guimaraes and Ezri Konsa have arrived for a combined fee of around £200m, adding depth, versatility and proven quality across the pitch.

Yet the market is far from done for Arsenal. More movement is expected before the window closes at 11pm on September 1, with several players deemed surplus to requirements likely to depart and space opening up for the next wave.

The message from London Colney is unmistakable: this is no quick fix. Arsenal are building a squad – and an academy – designed to feed itself. The question now is how quickly these young arrivals from Manchester and Blackburn can force their way into that conversation.