Arsenal ‘agree’ to sign ‘the next Neymar’ as two new signings all but done
Arsenal are expected to sign teenage brothers Edwin and Holger Quintero from Ecuadorian club Independiente del Valle, who have a strong track record of producing youth talent.
Arsenal have been putting faith in their young players in recent times as they aim to win more silverware under Mikel Arteta.
Max Dowman has broken into the Arsenal first-team at just 15-years-old this season, while teenagers Ethan Nwaneri and Myles Lewis-Skelly are now fully-fledged senior players.
Ecuadorian Serie A side Independiente have seen a number of current Premier League stars come through their ranks in years gone by, such as current Gunners defender Piero Hincapie and Chelsea man Moises Caicedo.
Arsenal have spotted two more youngsters who could go on to big things in the club’s academy, and they are now soon set to sign contracts in North London, with one drawing a comparison to Brazil icon Neymar.
Arsenal to sign Edwin and Holger Quintero from Independiente
According to a new report from ESPN, Arsenal have “agreed a deal in principle” to sign Edwin and Holger Quintero from Independiente del Valle when they turn 18 in August 2027.
The 16-year-old duo are both in London this week and are expected to sign their contracts with the Gunners ahead of a formal announcement on a future, unnamed date.
Arsenal have reportedly been tracking the pair for well over a year, with Edwin a quick right winger who has “drawn comparisons with a young Neymar” while Holger is an attacking midfielder.
The fee involved is currently unclear, but the deal is viewed as something of a coup for the club’s academy recruitment team, with the clear pathway to Arteta’s first-team thought to be a key factor in making both players want to join.
Max Dowman’s rise proves that young players are valued at Arsenal
Arsenal fans hailed Dowman as the new Lamine Yamal for his performances in pre-season that have seen him regularly included in Arteta’s first-team squad for 2025-26.
He has featured five times for the senior side so far this term at just 15-years-old, with Dowman set to sign professional terms at Arsenal next year despite widespread interest in his signature.
The England youth international became the youngest Champions League player ever when he played against Slavia Prague on 4 November, and he is surely on his way to becoming a star in the years to come.
Even with Arsenal chasing silverware in the league and on the European stage this term, Arteta has found the space for a 15-year-old in his side, so it is no wonder that highly-rated talents like the Quintero twins want to join the club in the hope that they can follow in his footsteps soon.