Who is James Wilson? Young Scotland star at centre of Tottenham and Arsenal transfer battle | OneFootball

Young striker has been huge Deadline Day talking point

It is believed that both clubs saw an initial loan spell as a trial period for Wilson to showcase his abilities before making a decision on whether to keep him permanently at the end of the current campaign.

Who is James Wilson?

A prolific finisher at youth level, Wilson might not be the biggest striker in the world at 5’7”, but he is sure to continue to grow, especially considering his slight frame.

He boasts good hold-up play regardless and a neat touch when receiving the ball into feet, meaning that he can link play well, as well as stretch defences with his pace in behind.

Wilson broke into the first-team set-up at Hearts back in 2023-24, making numerous matchday squads in the Scottish top flight, but he was never utilised as a substitute.

That changed last season, however, when he played 20 times in the Premiership, scoring five goals.

He scored on his first two senior appearances for the club off the bench against St Mirren and Hibernian back in October 2024, and he netted another two goals in a 2-2 draw at Ross County in December that year, having started three of the club’s last four games.

His final goal of the season came in a 3-1 victory over St Mirren in February 2025, another game that he started up top.

Top target: James Wilson

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Wilson was sent off in the 38th minute of the penultimate match of the campaign against Dundee United for a rash challenge on Luca Stephenson.

He is also the second youngest goalscorer in Europa Conference League history - at 17 years and 288 days - when he scored against Petrocub in the league phase in December 2024.

This term, Wilson’s minutes have become less regular, featuring 10 times and scoring twice.

Those two strikes have come in the League Cup, in two group-stage demolitions of Dunfermline and Hamilton.

The teenager is also capped by the Scottish senior side, with Steve Clarke calling him up for the Nations League play-off against Greece back in March last year.

He came on for the final 17 minutes of the 3-0 second-leg defeat at Hampden Park to become the Tartan Army’s youngest ever player at 18 years and 17 days, breaking John Lambie’s 138-year record.

He had forced his way into Clarke’s thinking having notched eight goals in 14 games for the Scottish youth sides.

Four of those came in five matches for the Under-21 team en route to their qualification for the 2025 Under-21 European Championships.