Arsenal Set for Five More Signings Following Ben Cottrell Transfer Announcement
Arsenal announces a permanent transfer and explains why five more moves are effectively ‘confirmed’
Ben Cottrell’s permanent transfer to NS Mura has implications for five other youth players, as Mikel Arteta finalizes his 25-man Premier League roster.
Arsenal asserts Ben Cottrell has transferred permanently to NS Mura.
Before the summer transfer window closes, the decision by Arsenal to allow Ben Cottrell to depart on a permanent basis will have an effect on several other young players at the club.
As announced on the club’s official website on Tuesday afternoon, the midfielder, who made his debut for the Gunners in December 2020 when he came off the bench in a 4-2 Europa League group-stage victory over Dundalk, has completed a transfer to NS Mura.
“Ben Cottrell has joined Slovenian side NS Mura in a permanent transfer,”
A statement expresses the following.
“The 21-year-old began with our academy in 2010 at the age of eight and has been a valuable member at youth level ever since.
“Ben made 13 appearances for our under-21s last season, scoring three goals and assisting twice. We thank Ben for his contribution and wish him all the best with NS Mura.”
The timing of Cottrell’s departure is ideal, as he would have been classified as a senior player by Premier League squad rules had he remained.
This is because he was born before January 1, 2002, which prevented him from being classified as a U21s player alongside Karl Hein and Marquinhos.
Consequently, a decision must be made regarding James Hillson, Omar Rekik, Ryan Alebiosu, Tim Akinola, and Tyreece John-Jules, the other five non-first-team players on the books at the Emirates Stadium who are in the same situation as Cottrell.
Due to their respective birth dates, they will also be considered senior players when Arteta is permitted to identify Arsenal’s 25-man Premier League squad on September 1 following the conclusion of the summer transfer window.
However, with 33 eligible senior players ahead of them, an exit appears more plausible.
In fact, John-Jules has already expressed his willingness to accept a permanent transfer:
“I’ve got one year left on my contract at Arsenal,”
He stated in May on The Beautiful Game podcast.
“I’ve had five loans now and each one feels like you’re getting further from the first team. Talks will have to happen at some point – whether I stay, go out on loan or leave on a permanent.
“I just want to settle somewhere, whether that’s signing a new contract with Arsenal or going somewhere else on a permanent.
“I think it’s time to settle down and just focus and chill instead of hopping from loan to loan. It’s difficult and it’s draining travelling to all these places.
“Settling and focusing on one team would be ideal, whether that’s Arsenal or somewhere else. I’m all ears. I want to hear every side and I will pick the best option for me.”
After two loan stints with Sparta Rotterdam and Wigan Athletic during the 2022/23 season, Rekik must play regularly during the 2023/24 season if he is to reach the Tunisia squad for the 2024 Africa Cup of Nations.
As Arteta is poised to add six new players to Arsenal’s Premier League roster, namely Bukayo Saka, William Saliba, Gabriel Martinelli, Kai Havertz, Jurrien Timber, and Declan Rice, there will be no room for any of the aforementioned youngsters, much less all five.
As a result, this effectively ‘confirms’ that Hillson, Rekik, Alebiosu, Akinola, and John-Jules will be loaned out or, like Cottrell, sold permanently before the transfer deadline; otherwise, they will spend the first half of the upcoming season, at the very least, playing in the U21s, which could hinder their respective development.
Arsenal Set for Five More Signings Following Ben Cottrell Transfer Announcement
