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Arsenal 'pushing hard' to sign wonderkid striker
Cameron Smith
- Updated: 5 Feb 2026 09:47 GMT
- 6 min read
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Arsenal are reportedly set to compete for the signing of Middlesbrough striker Cruz Ibeh during the upcoming summer transfer window.
The 17-year-old centre forward has registered five goal contributions in 10 games in the U18 Premier League this season, and he has also found the back of the net on three occasions in three matches in the Premier League 2 for Middlesbrough’s U21 outfit.
Ibeh made his first-team debut for Middlesbrough during their 3-1 defeat to Fulham in the FA Cup third round in January, while he has been named in the matchday squad for two Championship fixtures so far this season.
The teenager is unlikely to be trusted with meaningful league minutes during the remainder of the campaign, with Middlesbrough currently gunning to win promotion back to the Premier League, but he is regarded as one of the club’s top youth prospects.
Unsurprisingly, his progress is therefore being closely monitored by a number of clubs in the English top flight.
That is according to TEAMtalk, who claim that Arsenal and Chelsea are both “pushing particularly hard” to win the race for Ibeh’s signature.
Liverpool and Manchester City are also reportedly keeping tabs on Ibeh’s development at the Riverside Stadium, but Middlesbrough remain confident of retaining the talented teenager for the foreseeable future.
He is viewed as a future first-team regular by club officials and he signed his first professional contract with Middlesbrough in November. However, the Championship outfit are expecting to receive approaches for Ibeh this summer, with Arsenal among the clubs set to intensify their pursuit over the coming months.
Arsenal to sign Cruz Ibeh?
Ibeh is the latest teenage striker to be linked with a move to Arsenal following interest in Blackburn Rovers’ Igor Tyjon and Hearts’ James Wilson during the January transfer window.
Mikel Arteta’s side were unable to sign either player before Deadline Day, however, with Tyjon remaining at Ewood Park despite rejecting a contract proposal and Wilson moving to Tottenham Hotspur on an initial loan deal.
The Gunners are expected to rekindle their interest in Tyjon when his Blackburn deal expires this summer, but they could also launch a bid for Ibeh.
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