da dobrowin： Arsenal are reportedly fighting tooth and nail to fend off interest from Harry Kane's Bayern Munich for their 16-year-old wonderkid Chido Obi-Martin.
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Obi-Martin regarded as one of the hottest prospectsBayern keen to lure him to GermanyCannot sign a professional deal with Arsenal until NovemberWHAT HAPPENED?
Obi-Martin's recent stellar performance, where he netted seven goals against Norwich City Under-18s in a resounding 9-0 victory, has intensified interest in the young forward. As per the Football Association's regulations, he cannot sign a professional contract with Arsenal until his 17th birthday in November. However, in other European countries, such as those within the EU, players can ink professional deals as early as 16, presenting a potential loophole for clubs like Bayern Munich to exploit, according to
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While Bayern Munich's interest looms large, Arsenal remain steadfast in their efforts to retain Obi-Martin, who has dual citizenship and featured for Denmark in their Under-17s European Championship qualifying campaign. Negotiations between the club and the teenager's representatives are underway, with Arsenal expressing a strong desire for him to continue his development within their ranks before they can tie him down with a professional contract after his 17th birthday.
DID YOU KNOW?
The intricacies of Premier League academy rules further complicate Obi-Martin's situation. Players who agree to scholarship terms must sign them on July 1 of the school year in which they turn 16. Additional professional deals can only be signed upon reaching the age of 17, with a brief window each summer allowing for academy transfers under specific conditions.
Furthermore, Brexit has reshaped the landscape of player transfers, particularly for young talents with EU passports. Premier League prospects with EU citizenship are attractive targets for clubs in countries like Germany, offering professional contracts and first-team opportunities at an earlier stage than in England which is a win-win situation for clubs and the player involved.
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Obi-Martin's recent agreement with Elite Project Group, a prominent talent representation agency led by agent Emeka Obasi, further underscores his growing stature in the footballing world. Elite Project Group boasts an impressive roster of clients, including Arsenal stars Bukayo Saka and Eddie Nketiah, as well as former Gunner Folarin Balogun. It remains to be seen if the Gunners can offer him a compelling contract accompanied by a sporting project which will convince him to stay in London and reject the opportunity of trying his luck with the Bundesliga giants.