Arsenal are making preparations for the January transfer window and with that in mind, recent links have put them as an interested team in youngster Shea Charles.
He has pedigree, having come through the Manchester City academy – making one first-team appearance under Pep Guardiola – before making the switch to Southampton in 2023.
For the Saints, Charles has had a mixed time of it, moving in and out of the team, before he was eventually loaned out to Sheffield Wednesday for the 2024/25 season.
With some impressive performances at Championship level, there is almost certainly a potential top player there for the future.
That may show why Arsenal and Mikel Arteta are looking at a transfer ahead of the January transfer window.
So with that said, here’s a look at everything you need to know about transfer target Shea Charles.
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Shea Charles age and height
Shea Charles was born on November 5, 2003, which makes him 21 years old at the time of writing and still at the start of his professional football career.
The youngster is six foot and two inches tall – or roughly 1.89 metres in height – making him physically large for his size and position.
What is Shea Charles’ position?
In his short career so far, Charles has often played as a defensive midfielder, capable of receiving the ball from the backline before progressing it forward.
He is also versatile though, capable of filling in at centre-back or right-back if required.
Shea Charles’ Northern Ireland career
While club football is where Charles is still looking to make an impact in the years ahead, he is already flourishing on the international stage.
The midfielder plays for Northern Ireland – eligible through his mother and her side of the family – and has already racked up plenty of appearances for the side.
The captaincy has already been handed to him on a few occasions, outlining the potential he has for the nation moving forward.
Who is Shea Charles’ brother?
Over the years there have been plenty of famous families plying their trade in football and the Charles brothers will be looking to join that group.
Shea Charles is already a regular feature at just 21, though his brother is looking to join him in senior football soon.
Pierce Charles, 19, is his younger brother and he actually plays as a goalkeeper rather than in midfield.
He currently plays for Sheffield Wednesday, but is awaiting his senior debut for the club, though he has already been handed a few caps at international level for Northern Ireland.
Are Pierce and Shea Charles related to Dion Charles?
While Dion Charles is another star of the Northern Ireland national team, he isn’t actually related to Shea Charles or Pierce Charles.
Shea Charles at Man City
Charles was born and raised in Manchester, joining the Man City academy in 2011 aged just seven years old.
He went on to train with the first team in 2021/22 before finally making his debut in 2023 for the side before leaving later that year to join Southampton.
Shea Charles transfer fee
Despite only making a handful of appearances for the Man City senior team, Southampton splashed out £15million to secure a deal for Charles in 2023.
While he hasn’t been an ever-present since, there is plenty of promise there for a player who could be the next big star.
Shea Charles to Arsenal transfer
Ahead of the January 2025 transfer window, Arsenal have been linked with a potential move for Shea Charles.
The youngster could be viewed as part of a midfield rebuild the Gunners are looking at when it comes to moving some of their older players on.
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