Arsenal has officially signed Ecuadorian twins Edwin and Holger Quintero from Independiente Del Valle, with the agreement set to take effect when they turn 18 in August 2027, as confirmed by the club on Thursday.
The 16-year-olds traveled to London this week to finalize the deal, which ESPN reported earlier.
The financial details of the transfer remain undisclosed, but this move is part of Arsenal’s strategy to recruit top young talent. In October, the club also announced the signing of 16-year-old Victor Ozhianvuna from Shamrock Rovers, slated to join the Gunners in January 2027 when he turns 18.
Independiente, a Serie A club in Ecuador, is recognized for its rich talent pool, having developed players like Chelsea’s Moisés Caicedo and Piero Hincapié, who was loaned to Arsenal from Bayer Leverkusen in September with a potential permanent deal.
Chelsea has also secured deals for teenage players Kendry Páez and Deinner Ordonez from Independiente, but Arsenal successfully outmaneuvered several top clubs across Europe to sign the Quintero twins.
Sources indicate that Arsenal has been monitoring the twins for over a year. Edwin Quintero, known for his speed as a right winger, has drawn comparisons to a young Neymar, while Holger is seen as an attacking midfielder.
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This acquisition is seen as a significant achievement for the club’s academy recruitment team. A key factor in the twins’ decision was the clear opportunity for first-team advancement, supported by the recent development of players like Myles Lewis-Skelly, Ethan Nwaneri, and Max Dowman.
Dowman, who will turn 16 in December, signed a scholarship with Arsenal in October and has already made appearances in both the Premier League and Champions League this season.
His substitute appearance against Slavia Prague last month made him the youngest player ever to compete in the Champions League.
This report includes information from James Olley.