Arsenal officially announced on Thursday that they have signed Ecuadorian twins Edwin and Holger Quintero from Independiente Del Valle, with the transfer becoming official when they reach 18 years old in August 2027, the club stated.
The 16-year-olds visited London this week to finalize the deal, which was initially reported by ESPN.
The specifics of the transfer fee remain unclear, yet this move aligns with Arsenal’s commitment to acquiring the most promising talent of the next generation, as evidenced by the confirmation last October that another 16-year-old, Victor Ozhianvuna, will be joining the Gunners from Shamrock Rovers in January 2027 upon turning 18.
Independiente, an Ecuadorian Serie A club, is known for being a breeding ground for Ecuadorian talent, having developed Chelsea’s Moisés Caicedo and Piero Hincapié, who moved to Arsenal from Bayer Leverkusen in September on a loan for the season with an option to purchase.
Chelsea has also made arrangements to bring in teenagers Kendry Páez and Deinner Ordonez from Independiente, but Arsenal triumphed over numerous elite European clubs to secure the Quintero twins.
According to sources, the Gunners have been monitoring the duo for over a year. Edwin Quintero is a quick right winger who has been likened to a young Neymar, while Holger is seen as an attacking midfielder.
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The acquisition is seen as a significant achievement for the club’s academy scouting team, with reports suggesting that a major influencing factor was the clear opportunity to advance to the first team, highlighted by the recent advancements of Myles Lewis-Skelly, Ethan Nwaneri, and most recently Max Dowman.
Dowman, who will turn 16 in December, signed a scholarship agreement with the club in October and has already made his debuts in both the Premier League and Champions League this season.
His appearance as a substitute against Slavia Prague last month made him the youngest player to ever take part in the Champions League.
Information from James Olley contributed to this report.
