Arsenal Confirm Final Transfer After Deadline Passes Following Late Issue
Arsenal have officially confirmed the signing of 18-year-old forward Evan Mooney from Scottish Premiership side St Mirren, with the announcement arriving after the transfer window closed on Monday. The deal represents a late piece of business for the Gunners on what was a busy deadline day.
Details of the Mooney Transfer
It is understood that Mooney has joined Arsenal for an initial fee of £400,000, with a further £400,000 in potential add-ons and an undisclosed sell-on clause included in the agreement. The young forward, who can also operate as an attacking midfielder, is expected to link up with the club's academy setup rather than the first team immediately.
Mooney featured 23 times across all competitions for St Mirren, making his senior debut at the start of the 2024/25 season. His league debut came in October 2024 during a loss to Hearts. Notably, the teenager entered the pitch as a substitute in the Scottish League Cup final in December, where St Mirren defeated Celtic 3-1.
Confirming the transfer, Arsenal stated: "Everyone at Arsenal would like to congratulate Evan and welcome him to the club."
Midfielder Search and Other Business
Attention had turned to whether Arsenal might secure a late deal for a midfielder after Mikel Merino's injury news forced the club's hand. However, the right opportunity failed to materialise, leading the club to instead bolster their academy ranks with the Mooney signing.
In addition to Mooney, Arsenal also agreed a deal to sign 18-year-old centre-half Jaden Dixon from Stoke City for close to £500,000. The Gunners beat a number of interested parties to secure Dixon's signature, further strengthening their youth prospects.
Arteta's Comments on Transfer Strategy
When asked about bringing in a new midfielder on deadline day, manager Mikel Arteta responded: "Of course. I mean, when you lose a big player like this in the squad with four months to go and all the competitions to play for, you need to look. We need to do everything that we possibly can to see if we have a player that is available. And if we don't, we keep what we have."
Arteta emphasised the challenge of finding a suitable replacement, stating: "At this level, especially for four months, you have to be a player that has the capacity to adapt immediately and impact the team. That's not easy. But if it were easy, we wouldn't be here. So, we need to find solutions and try."
When questioned about whether summer spending would hinder Arsenal's prospects, Arteta added: "We have the responsibility to do that. It is true that we have done certain deals, but nothing different to the top clubs, I don't think. We have to see where are the parameters. We have to have the options and then present them and then: is it possible, yes or no?"
He concluded: "We are on it. It's just the fact you want to make the right call with the right player because we really want to improve the team if we can. If not, we don't do it."
The signing of Evan Mooney, though confirmed after the deadline, underscores Arsenal's commitment to nurturing young talent while navigating the complexities of the transfer market. With injuries influencing their strategy, the club has opted to invest in future prospects while maintaining a cautious approach to immediate first-team reinforcements.
