Arsenal announce defender signing – Winger buzzing after JOINING Arsenal – £120M star holds talks with Arteta
Here is a roundup of the top Arsenal news, gossip and transfer latest from icfootballnews featuring the likes of Marli Salmon, Julian Alvarez and James Scanlon that you may have missed..
Arsenal have secured the long-term future of highly rated young defender Marli Salmon after the teenager signed his first professional contract with the club on his 17th birthday.
Salmon has spent the past seven years developing within Arsenal’s academy after joining the club as a youngster, with his rapid progress eventually seeing him make the step into Mikel Arteta’s senior squad.
The defender’s professional terms represent another important milestone in a career that has accelerated considerably over the past year. Arsenal had already agreed a pre-contract with Salmon earlier in 2026, with that agreement set to become a professional deal once he reached his 17th birthday.
Speaking after putting pen to paper, Salmon reflected on the hard work and sacrifices that have gone into reaching this point.
“It means a lot to me,” Marli said after signing his contract, “A lot of hard work went into this, a lot of ups and downs, but I’m so proud.
“I think it’s a proud moment for my family as well, I think it’s a reward for them as well, because they put so much time and effort into me. It’s proof of their hard work as much as mine.”
Marli joined us in 2019 at under-11s level as an attacker, but over the course of his seven years as a Gunner, the 17-year-old has grown into an imposing defender.
“I was an attacker in those days, so it was a bit different, but it was good.” Marli said, reflecting on the start of his ARSENAL journey.
“It sounds kind of cliched but it’s a lot of ups and downs, a lot of tough times. Sometimes you really go through adversity, but it’s built me to the person I am today, so I’m thankful for it.”
Salmon’s professional contract therefore arrives at an exciting point in his development. Rather than simply being viewed as an academy prospect, he has already gained valuable experience alongside established senior players and has shown that he can cope with the demands of first-team football.
The teenager has also spoken about the importance of training with Arsenal’s senior squad, highlighting how much he can learn from experienced players both on and off the pitch.
For ARSENAL, securing Salmon’s future is another indication of the club’s commitment to developing young talent from within. The Gunners have already seen academy graduates make significant contributions under Arteta, and Salmon will now hope to follow that pathway.
SCANLON BUZZING AFTER MOVE
James Scanlon has expressed his delight after completing a late move to Arsenal from Manchester United, with the Gibraltar international excited to begin the next chapter of his career in north London.
Arsenal confirmed the signing of the 19-year-old winger on Saturday as the club continued their push to strengthen their academy ranks. Scanlon arrives from Manchester United after spending five years with the Old Trafford club, having joined their academy in 2021.
The move brings an end to his time with United but provides Scanlon with an exciting opportunity to continue his development at one of the Premier League’s leading clubs. ARSENAL have been increasingly active in recruiting promising young players this summer, and Scanlon is the latest addition to their development structure.
Scanlon was clearly delighted after the transfer was completed, admitting that he had been waiting for the move to go through: “I think you can see where the club’s at, [it’s] really positive and I think it’s only going to get better.
“You can see that everyone here is hungrier for more, hungrier to get better and I think that’s something I believe I can add to and want to be a part of as well.
“I’m a creative player, I like to score goals, assist, so hopefully I can excite players who watch me, and that’s what I’m here to do really.”
Despite being just 19-year-old, James has played 24 times for his country, Gibraltar, at senior international level.
Having featured in World Cup qualifiers and UEFA Nations League action for his country, James is bringing a host of competitive experience with him to north London.
“I think it’s massive. [I’m] obviously proud to represent [my] country, but also international football at a young age is only going to improve me as a player, as a person as well.
“Playing against men week-in, week-out, being part of a dressing room that represents a country is also extremely valuable, so I think it’s only going to help me going forward.”
The youngster is expected to initially continue his development with Arsenal’s academy, although his ultimate ambition will be to break into Mikel Arteta’s senior plans.
For ARSENAL, the signing represents another calculated investment in young talent. Scanlon already has senior international experience and now has the opportunity to develop within a club renowned for giving opportunities to emerging players.
ALVAREZ HOLDS ARTETA TALKS
Arsenal’s hopes of signing Julian Alvarez have suffered a major setback after David Ornstein revealed that the Atletico Madrid striker has told Mikel Arteta he does not want to move to the Emirates Stadium.
Alvarez has been one of the most talked-about players of the summer transfer window, with his future at Atletico Madrid uncertain amid an increasingly tense stand-off. The Argentina international has reportedly been keen on a move to Barcelona, but Atletico have firmly closed the door on a transfer to their La Liga rivals.
Arsenal had emerged as a potential alternative destination, with the Premier League champions understood to be prepared to negotiate with Atletico over a deal for the 26-year-old forward.
However, Ornstein has now delivered a significant update on the situation, revealing on TNT Sports that there is currently only a “low chance” of Alvarez joining Arsenal.
Ornstein said on TNT Sports: “There is a low chance that Julian Alvarez comes to ARSENAL.
“He’s spoken to Mikel Arteta and said he doesn’t want to come. That could change, but it’s NOT developing.
“If they don’t get him, maybe they stick with what they’ve got.”
Alvarez’s preference for Barcelona has complicated matters further. Atletico have publicly rejected the possibility of selling him to the Catalan club, creating an unusual situation in which the striker’s preferred destination appears unavailable.
The former Manchester City forward has also been left out of Atletico’s squad for their latest fixture against Sevilla, adding further uncertainty to his immediate future. He has scored 49 goals and provided 17 assists in 107 appearances for the Spanish side since moving to Madrid in 2024.
For Arsenal, the latest development leaves Mikel Arteta facing a difficult decision in the final days of the transfer window.
Ornstein suggested Alvarez remains the club’s target, but warned that Arsenal could ultimately decide against pursuing another striker if they cannot convince the Argentine to make the move.
ARSENAL may therefore have to stick with their current attacking options unless Alvarez changes his stance.
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