Arsenal set to sign 16-year-old Ecuadorian twins | OneFootball

Arsenal are poised to continue their strategic global youth recruitment with the imminent arrival of highly rated Ecuadorian twins Edwin and Holger Quintero. The 16-year-olds are expected in London this week to complete formalities ahead of signing five-year contracts that will activate when they turn 18 in August 2027, according to reports from BBC Sport.

The Gunners have tracked the pair, products of the acclaimed Independiente del Valle academy, for more than a year. The deal, believed to be worth up to £9m, underlines Arsenal’s renewed ambition to compete aggressively in the market for elite teenage talent. Independiente’s development pathway has produced several high-profile exports, including Moises Caicedo, Kendry Páez and Arsenal’s own Piero Hincapié, currently on loan from Bayer Leverkusen.

Right-sided winger Edwin Quintero has already drawn lofty comparisons in Ecuador with Neymar for his flair and agility, while Holger, an inventive attacking midfielder, has been likened to former Spain international Thiago Alcântara. Though the brothers are expected to join the academy upon arrival, Arsenal sources suggest they could be fast-tracked into first-team contention if their progression matches projections.

The move reflects a broader strategic shift at the club. Under Mikel Arteta, Arsenal have intensified their pursuit of world-class youth prospects, mirroring a model that Chelsea have adopted with notable success, most recently through the emergence of Brazilian winger Estevão Willian.

Arsenal’s first major step in this direction came with the signing of Ajax goalkeeper Tommy Setford, who joined with the intention of immediately integrating into senior training and is now Arteta’s third-choice keeper. The club have since added Shamrock Rovers forward Victor Ozhianvuna, another signing who will arrive upon turning 18 in 2027.

GFN | Finn Entwistle