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, commencing 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 a 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 setup.
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.
