James Scanlon

Official: Scanlon signs a two-year deal at Arsenal and takes the number 63

A 19-year-old English left winger and attacking midfielder, at Manchester United from Derby County since 2023 and on loan last season at Swindon Town (six matches, one goal). Arsenal want him in the same move as Habeeb Ogunneye: The Telegraph describes a booked medical and a two-year deal plus a one-year option, but talks were still ongoing on 20 August. A youth-recruitment file.

Latest development

1. 30/08OFFICIAL since 29 August.

   Arsenal announced the signing of James Scanlon on their official site: a two-year deal, the number 63, arriving on a free transfer from Manchester United. The 19-year-old winger, Leicester-born and a 24-cap Gibraltar international, spent the second half of last season on loan at Swindon Town in League Two, where he scored his first senior goal. He starts with the under-21s. "I've been waiting to get this over the line, so I'm buzzing to be here," he told the club's website.

2. 30/08still no agreement between the clubs.

   Arsenal are still working to complete the signing of the 19-year-old winger, but nothing has been settled with Manchester United at this stage, which is why Tyjon and Ogunneye went first. The file remains at the discussion stage, three days from the deadline.

3. 26/08 (evening)the medical is done, the club-to-club agreement is not.

   The Standard report that James Scanlon has completed his medical and that both clubs intend to finalise within 48 hours: a free transfer from Manchester United with a 40% sell-on clause, exactly the structure used for Habeeb Ogunneye. The same piece still notes that no agreement has been signed between Arsenal and United.

   The entry therefore does not move until that point is cleared.

4. 25/08 (evening)close, but no club agreement yet.

   The Athletic describe James Scanlon as close to finalising a move from Manchester United, on a free transfer with a significant sell-on clause. Arseblog News add the caveat that matters: no agreement has been reached between the two clubs yet, even if personal terms are not expected to be a problem and talks are continuing. The 19-year-old winger, capped 24 times by Gibraltar, spent the second half of last season on loan at Swindon Town.

   The file therefore stays in talks, not agreed.

5. 24/08 (evening)we got ahead of ourselves, and the Standard corrects it.

   Following now.arsenal, we wrote last night that the deal would be wrapped up on Monday and announced alongside Ogunneye and Tyjon. The Standard write on 24 August that the agreement between Arsenal and Manchester United has in fact not been reached: the deal is described as "close", with hopes of completing it before the end of the week.

   What is settled: the 19-year-old attacking midfielder is still keen on the move, and personal terms are not expected to be a problem. What is not: the fee between the two clubs, the only remaining sticking point.

   The file drops back to DISCUSSIONS EN COURS. There will be no three-in-one announcement: Ogunneye and Tyjon go first, Scanlon follows if he follows.