Arsenal Secures Liverpool Forward Vincent Joseph for Academy
Arsenal have struck an agreement with highly rated Liverpool forward Vincent Joseph, moving to prise one of Kirkby’s brightest prospects out of Anfield and into their academy this summer.
The 16-year-old striker has agreed terms to join the Gunners, with the two clubs now locked in negotiations over a compensation package. Because of Joseph’s age, Liverpool are entitled to a fee despite his contract expiring, and if the sides can’t settle on a figure, a tribunal will step in to set the amount.
Joseph has given Liverpool every reason to expect a return. He broke into u18 Premier League football last season and made an instant impact, scoring three times in just two appearances. That early burst at a higher age group wasn’t enough to convince him to commit his future on Merseyside, though, and he now looks set to continue his development in north London.
His numbers on the international stage underline why Arsenal have moved. Joseph has hit eight goals in nine games for England u16s, all during the 2025/26 campaign, marking him out as one of the most productive forwards in his age bracket.
Arsenal have been hunting for young centre-forwards across recent windows. They lost out to Liverpool for Will Wright last year, a setback that sharpened the club’s focus on not missing the next opportunity. This summer, that approach has started to bear fruit.
The Gunners have already agreed terms with Crystal Palace prospect Mylo Bernard and are closing in on Joseph from Liverpool, bolstering the attacking options in their youth ranks. Those deals follow the arrival of Elijah Upson from Tottenham Hotspur, another move that weakens a direct rival while strengthening Arsenal’s academy.
Axel Donczew is also on his way from Cardiff City, the only one of the quartet not out of contract this summer. That detail matters. It underlines a clear strategy: Arsenal are moving aggressively to capitalise when negotiations break down at other Premier League clubs, turning stalled talks elsewhere into opportunity at London Colney.
For now, the paperwork and formalities remain. Arsenal still need to finalise the settlements, complete the registrations and make the signings of Joseph, Bernard and Donczew official.
Once they do, the question shifts from tribunals and compensation to something far more intriguing: just how many of these calculated academy gambles will grow into first-team weapons at the Emirates?
