Arsenal have been scouting Real Madrid wonderkid 'for months'

Tom Weber
Tom Weber
  • Updated: 4 Oct 2025 08:31 CDT
  • 3 min read
Mikel Arteta, Arsenal, 2025/26
© IMAGO

Arsenal have been scouting Real Madrid youngster Victor Valdepenas 'for months,' according to transfer expert Fabrizio Romano.

Article continues under the video

In recent years, Arsenal have lost several promising academy talents to rival clubs due to a perceived lack of a first-team pathway. However, this view is now starting to change again due to the breakthroughs of Ethan Nwaneri, Myles Lewis-Skelly and Max Dowman.

The Gunners can point to these wonderkids as proof that you will get chances if you are good enough, and it is helping them bolster their academy ranks with exciting prospects.

Current ETV
Player image Victor Ozhianvuna
Victor Ozhianvuna

D (L)

Shamrock Rovers logo

Shamrock Rovers

Victor Ozhianvuna
Victor Ozhianvuna

D (L)

Shamrock Rovers

Shamrock Rovers

€0.4M

ETV Range

€0.3M - €0.4M

On Friday, Arsenal announced the record-breaking signing of Irish youngster Victor Ozhianvuna. Still only 16, the Shamrock Rovers winger will officially join the Gunners in 2027 for at least €2 million.

Now, transfer insider Fabrizio Romano has revealed that the North London giants want to sign another teenage prodigy. However, this potential deal is made 'difficult' by the fact that the player in question is on the books at Real Madrid.

Arsenal want Valdepenas

Speaking on his Here We Go podcast, Romano pointed to Victor Valdepenas as a player Arsenal have been keeping very close tabs on 'for a few months.' A centre-back by trade, the 18-year-old plays for Real Madrid Castilla in the Spanish third tier.

"I have one name, and it is a talent that Arsenal have been monitoring for a few months now," Romano began. "It is a player they keep observing. It is not going to be easy at all because he is a Real Madrid player. His name is Victor Valdepenas, also called 'Valde.'

Victor Valdepenas
© IMAGO - Victor Valdepenas

"He is considered an important talent. [He is] a player from Real Madrid's youth sector, centre-back, Spanish, talented. Arsenal have been monitoring him for some time.

"He is one of the players on the radar of Arsenal, but again, he is a Real Madrid player and we know how difficult it is to sign players from Real Madrid because all the players want to stay at Real Madrid and see that as the best project possible."

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