FootyChatter.com

Edwin (right) and Holger (left) Quintero have come through the same academy as Piero Hincapie and Moises Caicedo Arsenal are set to sign 16-year-old Ecuadorian twins Edwin and Holger Quintero, with the pair to officially join the Gunners when they turn 18. They are due in London this week to finalise the move and are expected to sign five-year contracts, which would start from August 2027. Right-sided winger Edwin has been likened to Brazil forward Neymar by local media, with Holger - an attacking midfielder - compared to former Liverpool and Barcelona midfielder Thiago Alcantara. The players will join from Ecuadorian Serie A club Independiente Del Valle, with reports suggesting the fee for the pair could reach £9m. The Independiente academy has a track record of producing talent, with Arsenal defender Piero Hincapie - who is on loan from Bayer Leverkusen but with an option to make the deal permanent - Chelsea's £100m midfielder Moises Caicedo and Kendry Paez also coming through their youth set-up. This deal has been in progress for well over a year and is the latest part of Arsenal's change in strategy, as they look to recruit some of the best young players in the world. The brothers are likely to join the club's academy but if - by the time they arrive in 2027 - they have developed enough to be a first-team option, they will be fast-tracked to the senior squad. Arsenal's London rivals Chelsea have become successful in this area, signing a number of highly rated young players from across the globe - with Brazil winger Estevao Willian the latest to make the breakthrough at Stamford Bridge. Chelsea signed Estevao Willian for an initial fee of £29m from Palmeiras The first signing that Arsenal made in this area, which started a change in youth recruitment, was when they brought in goalkeeper Tommy Setford from Ajax. That deal was slightly different to the ones for the Quintero twins as Setford was always earmarked to go straight into the first-team squad, and the England youth international is the third-choice goalkeeper for Mikel Arteta. Arsenal also confirmed the signing of 16-year-old Shamrock Rovers forward Victor Ozhianvuna in October. The Republic of Ireland Under-17 international has already played first-team football and will also join the club when he turns 18, which is in January 2027. Ozhianvuna became the second-youngest player to feature in the Uefa Conference League when he came on as a substitute for Shamrock against Molde. Arteta has also spoken previously of how discussions about Arsenal becoming part of a multi-club model have taken place internally. Premier League and EFL clubs can only officially sign foreign players after they turn 18, because of changes brought about by Brexit. The rules on what clubs can do around signing players who are under 18 from Europe and across the world changed post-Brexit. , external Premier League clubs who want to sign players from EU countries will be required to gain a Governing Body Endorsement (GBE), which is what applies to all other overseas players without the right to work in the UK. The GBE operates on a points-based system and points are scored for senior and talented young players, based on senior and youth international appearances, the quality of the selling club, the league they are in, league position and progression in continental competition and club appearances, based on domestic league and continental competition minutes. There have also been restrictions placed on the number of under-21 players a club can sign in one window. In the Premier League, the number of overseas under-21 players a club can sign has been limited to three in the January transfer window and six per season. Under Fifa's rules, the UK's exit from the EU also means that clubs will not be able to sign players from overseas until they are 18, which is why Arsenal's recent young signings cannot join until their 18th birthday. Latest Arsenal news, analysis and fan views Ask about Arsenal - what do you want to know? 'A fearless hero for hapless England' - Robin Smith obituary Ex-England player arrested on suspicion of attempted rape Hadjar promoted and Lindblad, 18, gets F1 drive Steve Davis: 'I felt I was unbeatable' The hidden workings of dating apps uncovered Meet the Premier League’s first female photographer Get ready for Guz Khan's new comedy, landing this Christmas 'A fearless hero for hapless England' - Robin Smith obituary What's behind snooker's 147 boom? '150th Open champion Smith needs more than a cool number plate' When F1 title has gone to a final-race three-way fight Five reasons for English positivity before Gabba Test 'Raise hell' - the fastest bowler you might not have heard of Why Caicedo was sent off but Bentancur escaped 'Qatar GP shows anything can happen in three-way title showdown' 'Arsenal deserve to be clear - but who's best placed to challenge? ' 'Is this the start of Liverpool's life without Salah? ' 'Bonds the embodiment of West Ham's spirit' Abject failure becoming the norm - where does Welsh rugby go from here? What next for heavyweight division after TKV win? A 'waste of England's time' - what did Wiegman learn from Lionesses' stroll? What's going on with fan disorder at European games? 766 and all that - when Cook conquered Australia 'Cherry-picked' or deserving? Why Pimblett got UFC title shot What next for friendly foes who see each other 'more than family'? Copyright © 2025 BBC. The BBC is not responsible for the content of external sites. Read about our approach to external linking.