Arsenal have won the race to sign Luton Town’s 11-year-old Charlie Patino at a cost of £10,000 in compensation.
Patino had caught the eye of Arsenal, Chelsea and Tottenham while Manchester City reportedly made a late attempt to lure the youngster to the north-west but he has opted for the Gunners because of their proximity to his home in St Albans.
Arsenal have missed out on another reported target, however, as the 13-year-old Takefusa Kubo, dubbed “the Japanese Messi”, has signed for FC Tokyo from Barcelona.
Kubo joined Barcelona’s heralded La Masia academy in 2011 but Fifa ruled that the Spanish club violated international transfer regulations, forcing the teenager to return home.
Kubo, who could rejoin Barcelona when he is 18, had been training with Tokyo’s junior youth team since April. Manchester City were also reported to be among Europe’s big clubs interested in Kubo, who was recently selected for Japan’s under-15 team.