Arsenal have taken teenage star Coran Madden on trial.
The 15-year-old forward, who has already had trials at Manchester City and Manchester United, is considered one of the brightest prospects in Northern Ireland.
Madden has earned the nickname ‘Golden Child’ at the academy of his club Cliftonville and is expected to move to the Premier League in the future.
Arsenal are one of several top-flight clubs targeting Northern Irish players due to Brexit changing laws around signing youngsters from abroad.
Premier League clubs cannot sign players from outside the United Kingdom until they are 18, when previously they could bring them in if they were 16 and moving within the European Union.
Best of luck to Coran Madden who will spend this week on trial with Arsenal Football Club. pic.twitter.com/kiYi2ru4Dv
— Cliftonville FDC (@CliftonvilleFDC) July 8, 2024
Northern Ireland is now attracting attention from Premier League clubs and Arsenal are set to sign 16-year-old winger Ceadach O’Neill from Linfield this summer.
O’Neill spent time at the club on trial last season, impressing during a youth tournament in Brazil, and has chosen the Gunners over other Premier League clubs.
Arsenal are launching a new development centre in Northern Ireland, which will be based in Belfast, as part of the plans to target the region.
Earlier this year, the club advertised for academy coaches to be based there, with the remit they would work with players from the Under-16 to Under-12s.
At 16, players usually make the move to the UK to sign scholarship terms with clubs. They are able to sign a professional contract when they turn 17.
