Arsenal has reached a preliminary agreement to sign Ecuadorian twins Edwin and Holger Quintero from Independiente Del Valle, with the deal set to finalize when they turn 18 in August 2027, according to sources speaking to ESPN.
The 16-year-olds are currently in London and are anticipated to complete formalities, including contract signings, ahead of an official announcement in the near future.
While the exact transfer fee remains undisclosed, this move is part of Arsenal’s ongoing strategy to attract the brightest young talent. This follows the recent confirmation that another 16-year-old, Victor Ozhianvuna, will be joining the Gunners from Shamrock Rovers in January 2027 upon turning 18.
Independiente, a side in Ecuador’s Serie A, is renowned for nurturing exceptional Ecuadorian talent, having produced players such as Chelsea’s Moisés Caicedo and Piero Hincapié, who recently joined Arsenal on loan from Bayer Leverkusen with a potential permanent transfer option.
Chelsea has also secured agreements to sign teenagers Kendry Páez and Deinner Ordonez from Independiente, but Arsenal managed to overcome stiff competition from numerous top European clubs to land the Quintero twins.
Reports indicate that the Gunners have been monitoring the twins for over a year. Edwin Quintero is a fast right winger, often compared to a young Neymar, while Holger is seen as an attacking midfielder.
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This agreement is seen as a significant victory for Arsenal’s recruitment department, largely due to the clear path to the first team evident in the recent advancements of talents like Myles Lewis-Skelly, Ethan Nwaneri, and most recently Max Dowman.
Dowman, who is set to turn 16 in December, signed a scholarship deal with the club in October and has already made appearances in both the Premier League and Champions League this season.
His substitute performance against Slavia Prague last month made him the youngest player to ever compete in the Champions League.