Arsenal sign Chelsea youngster & shirt number confirmed | OneFootball

Arsenal have effectively confirmed the signing of Marcell Washington from Chelsea, with the player joining pre-season training this week.

Photo via Arsenal.com

Arsenal’s u21 players returned to training earlier this week, and pictured among the group was Marcell Washington, formerly of Chelsea.

Washington had held a trial with Arsenal in the latter stages of 2024/25, before Chelsea confirmed his departure from thejr club at the end of his scholarship contract on June 30th.

That didn’t necessarily confirm that Arsenal were going ahead with the signing, but the Gunners sharing photos of the player wearing the number 55 shirt in training seemingly provides that confirmation.

Photo via Arsenal.com

This isn’t the first player whose arrival Arsenal have effectively confirmed through training photos this week, with former St. Johnstone player Callan Hamill pictured in training with the Gunners’ u18s on Monday.

Like Washington, Hamill had already spent time on trial with Arsenal last season, so his transfer isn’t surprising.

Photo via Washington on Instagram

Washington actually made more appearances for the Arsenal academy than Chelsea’s in 2024/25, playing four times for the Blues and 10 times for the Arsenal u18s and u21s combined.

By the end of the season, the defender was effectively the Arsenal u21s’ starting left-back. That’s now set to be the case on a long-term basis.