After losing Ayden Heaven, Arsenal are set to sign ‘outstanding’ centre-back wonderkid for six-figure fee

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Arsenal have lost some key academy prospects in recent transfer windows, but the North London club are now looking to poach talent themselves from elsewhere.

Defender Ayden Heaven left for Manchester United in January, while prolific striker Chido Obi also joined the Red Devils in a controversial move last summer.

Meanwhile, the likes of Omari Hutchinson and Amario Cozier-Duberry have also departed N5 for other Premier League outfits in recent times.

As a means of counter-acting this loss of promising talent, the Gunners have set out to add starlets from across the United Kingdom to their youth ranks, and they’re now set to secure a deal for a highly-thought of centre-back.

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Arsenal close to signing St. Johnstone defender Callan Hamill

Heaven was deemed an important part of Arsenal’s under-21s, and thus the Gunners appear to have moved quickly to replace the central defender.

According to the Courier, Arsenal are closing in on a deal for St. Johnstone centre-half Callan Hamill.

Hamill trained with the Arsenal youth teams in pre-season last summer, and was part of the club’s under-17 squad that won the Flamengo Adidas Cup in Brazil in December.

The 15-year-old will join the North London outfit on an initial scholarship contract before he signs professional terms when he turns 17 in March 2026.

Arsenal will pay St. Johnstone a six-figure fee for the player’s services, and he’s expected to sign a four-year contract in N5.

Who is Arsenal target Callan Hamill?

Born in 2009, Hamill has developed through St. Johnstone’s academy, although he has spent time with Arsenal throughout his youth career.

The Scotsman can play at right-back as well as centre-back, and is known for his exceptional composure on the ball and his impressive ability to carry the ball beyond the first line of the press.

Described as ‘outstanding’ by football analyst Ben Mattinson, Hamill is physically imposing, efficient in his one-on-one duels and possesses good recovery pace.

Not likely to feature in the Arsenal first team for some time, the starlet will be given the opportunity to slowly develop in the club’s various youth teams, but he’s certainly one to watch out for in the long-term.