Arsenal have reached an agreement to sign 16-year-old Liverpool forward Vincent Joseph, with the clubs now negotiating a compensation fee. Joseph’s schoolboy registration at Liverpool expired this summer and he did not sign a youth scholarship contract with the club, despite reported interest from Chelsea and Manchester United before he settled on a move to north London.
According to The Athletic, Arsenal have an agreement in place with Joseph and are discussing a compensation settlement with Liverpool. The report has also been covered by Liverpool-focused outlet Empire of the Kop and Arsenal-focused outlet Daily Cannon.
How the compensation fee could be decided
If Arsenal and Liverpool cannot agree a compensation amount, the matter can be decided by the Professional Football Compensation Committee. The process applies when a player under 24 moves clubs before signing a first professional contract, or after a professional contract has expired, and the clubs cannot agree compensation.
In determining the amount, the committee considers factors including the player’s age, playing history, time spent training with the original club, the level and status of both clubs, and the contract conditions offered to the player. That process has produced significant awards before, Fulham were given a record compensation fee when Harvey Elliott made a similar move to Liverpool back in 2019 after the clubs couldn’t agree a figure.
Talks continue between Arsenal and Liverpool
Joseph’s expired schoolboy registration and the absence of a scholarship contract mean Arsenal and Liverpool are negotiating compensation rather than a conventional transfer fee. The amount remains to be settled between the clubs or, if necessary, through the compensation process.
There’s a notable parallel here. Liverpool themselves moved swiftly to sign Chelsea academy forward Rio Ngumoha shortly after his 16th birthday, in a deal that was also settled by tribunal. Arsenal are now doing much the same thing to Liverpool with Joseph.
Joseph’s record and Arsenal’s youth recruitment
Joseph is an England U16 international who has scored eight goals in nine appearances for the side. He also made two appearances for Liverpool’s U18s at the back end of last season, including a brace in a 4-3 win over Nottingham Forest, but that proved to be his final outing at that level for the club.
The prospective signing forms part of Arsenal’s efforts to recruit young players with the potential to progress to the first team or generate future transfer revenue. Arsenal have also reached an agreement to sign 16-year-old Mylo Bernard from Crystal Palace after his schoolboy registration contract expired.
Arsenal are also preparing to complete the signing of 16-year-old Axel Donczew from Cardiff City. Donczew became Cardiff’s youngest first-team player when he appeared in the English Football League Trophy at 15 years and 234 days old.
Arsenal had hoped to sign Leicester City winger Jeremy Monga but considered Leicester’s £10 million valuation too high before he joined Manchester City in July. Arsenal’s own 16-year-old England youth international Mishael Nduka rejected a new contract and subsequently moved to Manchester City, while fellow academy player Kyran Thompson also left the club this summer, part of the reason Arsenal have moved to bring in replacements.
Elijah Upson, the son of former Arsenal defender Matthew Upson, has joined Arsenal’s youth academy after leaving Tottenham. The 18-year-old is another addition to Arsenal’s academy system as the club continues its youth recruitment.
