London: Arsenal are on the verge of signing Barcelona’s highly rated teenaged full-back Joel Lopez, who is following in the footsteps of Cesc Fabregas and Hector Bellerin in joining the Gunners from the Spanish side’s academy.
The 16-year-old left-back has agreed scholarship terms and will sign his first professional contract on his 17th birthday in March. He will initially join Arsenal’s under-18 squad but could feature in the Checkatrade Trophy, with Arsenal’s U-21 side entering the competition for the first time.
Barcelona were keen to hold on to the player and will be disappointed that he is the latest young talent to decide that Arsenal offer a better future.
Lopez briefly changed his Instagram bio to include reference to his new club although this was subsequently removed as the deal has yet to be finalised.
Earlier this month that he said he would be leaving Barcelona. “It will be the club that I always carry in my heart for all the wonderful moments that I have lived,” he said.
“It was a difficult decision but after contemplating it with my family I made the decision to go and start a new stage as a footballer with great enthusiasm.”
Bellerin left Barcelona’s academy as a 16-year-old in 2011 and is now established in Arsenal’s first team.
But others, like Jon Toral and Fran Merida, have struggled to make a breakthrough after making a similar switch.
