Axel Donczew

Donczew: deal wrapped up with Cardiff for the club's youngest-ever player, medical completed

Arsenal have agreed a deal with Cardiff City for 16-year-old Axel Donczew, announced by Fabrizio Romano on July 26 with his «here we go» and a medical already completed. The player, able to operate centrally or in a wide attacking role, became Cardiff's youngest-ever player in October 2025 — 15 years and 234 days in an EFL Trophy tie against Newport County, a record previously held by Aaron Ramsey. Having never signed professional terms, he costs only a training compensation fee. He will join the academy first; the official announcement is expected once the paperwork is done.

Latest development

**UPDATE July 30**: the file is only waiting on the official announcement. Fabrizio Romano dropped his «here we go» on July 26 — full agreement between Arsenal and Cardiff, medical completed — relayed by TeamTalk, GiveMeSport and Yahoo Sports. Nothing on Arsenal.com at the time of writing: the status stays VERY RELIABLE and will move to OFFICIAL once the club publish. No fee disclosed, as the player never held a professional contract at Cardiff: the deal covers a training compensation fee. An academy signing rather than an immediate boost for Arteta — but a profile closely tracked in England since his precocity record with the Bluebirds. **UPDATE Aug 12**: signing completed and confirmed.