Arsenal have agreed a deal to sign Shamrock Rovers wonderkid Victor Ozhianvuna in what will be a record-breaking transfer for Irish football, Sporting News understands.
The 16-year-old midfielder, who has already featured in the League of Ireland’s Premier Division, will officially join the Gunners when he turns 18 in January 2027.
The fee will eclipse the figure Tottenham paid for compatriot Mason Melia earlier this year, making Ozhianvuna the most expensive player in Irish football history.
Ozhianvuna has already completed his medical with Arsenal and an agreement is now in place pending final paperwork. The transfer fee, believed to be higher than the $2m (£1.6m) Spurs spent to land Melia from St Patrick’s Athletic, sets a new benchmark for young Irish talent.
Mikel Arteta’s side fended off competition from a host of top European clubs who had tracked Ozhianvuna’s rapid progress through the Rovers academy.
His breakthrough into first-team football at just 16 highlighted why scouts have considered him one of the brightest prospects in Irish football.
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The bigger picture Arsenal have invested heavily in strengthening their academy pipeline in recent years, with academy chief Per Mertesacker and technical director James Ellis playing key roles.
Building a foothold in Ireland has become a clear part of that strategy, and their strong relationship with Shamrock Rovers – aided by connections through Stephen Bradley and Stephen McPhail – has been instrumental in getting the deal over the line.
Despite his age, Ozhianvuna has already played senior minutes for Rovers, although he will remain in Ireland until 2027 due to EU transfer regulations, allowing the Irish side to continue his development before his switch to north London.
The teenager now follows in the footsteps of a long list of Irish players to join Arsenal, and the Gunners believe he has the potential to become the latest success story from their academy system.
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