Liverpool to lose one of their top talents this summer as Arsenal agree terms with England starlet

Liverpool are set to lose one of their top age-group prospects this summer after Arsenal agreed personal terms to sign him.

The Reds have had a significant focus on signing elite young talents over the past 12 months, with 18-year-old centre-back duo Mor Talla Ndiaye and Ifeanyi Ndukwe signing for the club in 2026.

Ndukwe has impressed during pre-season but has not yet reached enough points to earn a work permit and needs to be loaned out until at least January.

Liverpool are also in talks to sign 19-year-old Hungary youth international midfielder Patrik Farkas, while they signed Salford forward Will Wright for a nominal fee last summer to join their U21 set-up.

And Colombian wonderkid midfielder Samuel Martinez has agreed to sign for the Reds and will officially move to England after he turns 18 in next year's summer transfer window.

While the Reds' academy is renowned as one of the best places in the world for young players to develop, there are a number of other English clubs that can say the same.

Arsenal have proven that there is a pathway between their academy and first team, with Bukayo Saka, Ethan Nwaneri, Myles Lewis-Skelly, Reiss Nelson and, most recently, Max Dowman all currently part of the senior squad to varying degrees of importance.

Liverpool talent accepts Arsenal offer

The Athletic report that Liverpool prospect Vincent Joseph, 16, has now decided to leave the Reds' academy and move to Arsenal instead, with a contract now agreed.

The striker has been described as one of Liverpool's biggest talents for his age, and the club had hoped to agree scholarship terms with the youngster ahead of him agreeing to his first professional contract at 17.

Joseph played nine times for the Reds' U16 side last season, scoring eight goals, and was promoted above his age group to play for the U18s on two occasions.

Liverpool and Arsenal will now need to discuss a fee settlement for the striker, or face the prospect of having the situation settled by a tribunal.

Joseph's age, playing record, length of time at his current club - he was signed at pre-academy level - and the terms that both clubs have offered are among the criteria set by the tribunal.

Being 16 years of age, Joseph was in the academy registration stage of the development pathway, and was on schoolboy registration terms. In accepting to join Arsenal, he reportedly turned down an offer from Manchester United.

Young players can only sign scholarship contracts when they leave school, though terms can be offered at an earlier date depending on certain circumstances.

Arsenal themselves lost one of their brightest talents in the same age group, with 16-year-old winger Mishel Nduka deciding to join the youth setup at Manchester City.

The Gunners have, however, signed midfielder Axel Donczew, who played for Cardiff City's academy and made an appearance in the EFL Trophy aged 15 last season.