Premier League side Arsenal have reached an agreement to sign 16-year-old Shamrock Rovers midfielder Victor Ozhianvuna in a transfer expected to set a new Irish record, according to transfer expert David Ornstein.
The highly-rated youngster, who has already featured in the League of Ireland Premier Division, will sign a pre-contract with the Gunners and officially join when he turns 18 in January 2027.
The deal is expected to be worth more than the £1.6 million Tottenham paid St Patrick’s Athletic for Mason Melia, making it the most expensive deal ever for a home-based Irish player.
The signing comes as part of Arsenal’s broader summer rebuild, where the club has balanced high-profile acquisitions with a focus on developing young talent. The Gunners have significantly strengthened their squad for the 2025-26 season with key additions across all departments.
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Among the standout signings are Eberechi Eze, Viktor Gyökeres and Martin Zubimendi, who arrived from Real Sociedad. Arsenal also secured Noni Madueke from Chelsea to bolster their attacking depth, while Cristhian Mosquera, Christian Nørgaard, and experienced goalkeeper Kepa Arrizabalaga were brought in to provide defensive stability and squad depth.
At the same time, Arsenal continue to focus on developing a strong young core as Ozhianvuna will join top talents like Max Dowman, who at just 15 years old, made headlines on Saturday when he became the second-youngest player ever to feature in the Premier League behind Arsenal’s Ethan Nwaneri.
Ozhianvuna has already made his mark on the international stage, earning call-ups to the Republic of Ireland’s U15 and U17 squads. He scored his first international goal at the UEFA Development Tournament in November 2023, helping Ireland secure the title, and later made his U17 debut in March 2025 during a 5-0 victory over Iceland.
However, born to Russian and Nigerian parents, Ozhianvuna remains eligible to represent three nations at senior level. The deal is expected to be finalised this week, with Arsenal beating several top European clubs to his signature.
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