Arsenal and the majority of their transfer activity has been focused on improving the first team squad.
But, it is good to know that they have not forgotten about the youth teams. And to add to the already promising list of players at the club, the Gunners have added Joel Lopez who comes from Barcelona, according to Daily Mail.
The 16-year-old will join the club as a scholar for the time-being and when he turns 17, will sign professional terms with the Gunners.
His first few months will be spent with the Under-18 team and if he manages to impress, he may move higher up the ranks, sooner rather than later.
A move for Lopez has been talked about for a long time now with even the youngster posting a farewell message. This added fuel to the fire and seemed to confirm that he will be moving clubs. In a heartfelt message, the youngster had this to say:
‘The day has come to say goodbye to what has been my home these last 7 years,’ Lopez told his followers on Instagram.
‘Thanks to Barcelona, it will be the club that I always carry in my heart for wonderful moments that I have lived with my friends, coaches, delegates, executives.
Lopez is not the first player to make this kind of a move as Arsenal do have a history of bringing in players from the Spanish club. The most prominent examples being Cesc Fabregas and Hector Bellerin, both of whom have done very well being part of the Gunners squad.
And if Lopez is able to produce even half the performances that the duo did, he will surely be considered a success. Now, it is up to him to prove that the Gunners have made the right decision by opting to sign him.
Maybe a first-team appearance this season, is too long a shot at the moment, but he is sure to make a mark sooner than you think. Lopez who generally plays a left back will look to follow in the footsteps of many youngsters and make his mark at the club. Given Arsenal’s history of promoting and nurturing young talent, that seems like a real possibility.
