Arsenal Targets Manchester United's James Scanlon and Habeeb Ogunneye
Arsenal’s youth rebuild is about to run straight through Manchester United.
The club are closing in on a double swoop for highly rated youngsters James Scanlon and Habeeb Ogunneye, with one deal already at the medical stage and the other progressing after a significant breakthrough in talks.
Standard Sport understands Arsenal have identified Scanlon as a serious target as they sharpen their focus on elite youth recruitment. Discussions with United are ongoing, but there is growing confidence in north London that a deal will be done. Personal terms are not expected to be a problem.
The situation with Ogunneye is even more advanced. Arsenal are set to sign the 20-year-old defender on a free transfer, with United inserting a 40 per cent sell-on clause to protect their long-term interests. The right-back is due to undergo a medical on Thursday, and Arsenal are planning to confirm the move over the weekend.
Once the paperwork is complete, Ogunneye will join up with the club’s U21s and be handed the chance to train with Mikel Arteta’s first team, a clear signal that this is not just a depth signing but a player they believe can push upwards.
Who is James Scanlon?
Scanlon is already a senior international at 19. Born in Leicester, he qualifies for Gibraltar through his mother and has been capped 24 times at senior level.
He made history in September 2024, becoming the youngest goalscorer in UEFA Nations League history at 17 years and 346 days, scoring in a 2-2 draw with Liechtenstein.
On the pitch, he is a versatile attacking option: primarily a winger who can operate on either flank, but also comfortable drifting inside as an attacking midfielder. That flexibility has clearly appealed to Arsenal’s recruitment team.
Scanlon came through Derby County’s academy before joining Manchester United in February 2021. He quickly climbed the age groups, breaking into the U18s within a year and then stepping onto the European stage in 2023-24 with appearances in the UEFA Youth League.
Last season marked a real leap. He featured for United’s U21s, trained with Erik ten Hag’s first team and, in May 2024, signed his first professional contract. He was named in a senior matchday squad for the first time in March 2025 for a Europa League tie against Real Sociedad, although he is still waiting for his competitive debut for the club.
To accelerate his development, United sent him on loan to Swindon Town for the second half of last season. Scanlon turned down interest from clubs across Europe to take that move, scoring once in six appearances as Swindon finished ninth in League Two, missing the play-offs by a single point.
Who is Habeeb Ogunneye?
Ogunneye is a year and a bit older than Scanlon and has taken the classic United academy route from a much deeper position on the pitch.
Born in Hackney, he joined United young and made his debut for their U18s at just 15. He is an attack-minded right-back, keen to drive forward and contribute in the final third, and spent last season toughening up in senior football with a loan at Newport County.
That spell brought 21 appearances in all competitions, including minutes in both the FA Cup and Carabao Cup, giving him a taste of knockout pressure and the demands of regular men’s football.
He has already crossed paths with Arsenal in competitive action. Ogunneye started for Newport against Arsenal U21s in the EFL Trophy last season, a night that did not go his way. He conceded a penalty, converted by Andre Harriman-Annous to level the game for an Arsenal side that included Marli Salmon.
Off the pitch, his international future is already a talking point. Eligible for England by birth and Nigeria through heritage, he sits at the centre of a tug-of-war between the two nations. No decision has been announced, but England U21s manager Lee Carsley has earmarked him as a potential star of the future.
If Arsenal complete both deals as expected, they will have prised two of United’s most intriguing young prospects out of Old Trafford in one sweep. The question now is simple: how quickly can Scanlon and Ogunneye turn potential into something that affects Arteta’s first team?
