Arsenal have fended off Premier League rivals to capture promising teenage goalkeeper Phoenix Blayney. The teenager will now link up with the Gunners after turning out in a trial for the North London club, where they’ve agreed terms with his current side, Larne.
Liverpool were also amongst several Premier League clubs interested in the Northern Ireland youth prospect, and he even had a trial with the Merseyside team, having been given permission to check out their training facilities in early 2023.
But it now appears as if Arsenal have clinched the signature of the highly-rated teenager.
“Everything has been agreed with Arsenal; he just needs to sign the contract. When he’s 17, he will sign a professional contract. It’s done and dusted,” his dad, Alan Blayney, told Belfast Live.
The Northern Ireland Under-17 stopper is said to have signed a pre-contract with Mikel Arteta’s side, and then will sign a professional deal when he turns 17 in November 2027.
The shot-stopper’s father, who has experience as a goalkeeper himself, has stated his son chose the Gunners over other interested parties because of the environment and the backroom staff, having already formed a connection with young Northern Ireland international Daniel McCarron, who also recently signed for the north London club.
He has played for Northern Ireland’s U17 side on eight occasions so far.
