Edge Deal Shows Why U18 Transfers Must Continue

In a week where the signing of young players has been in the spotlight, summer signing Jamie Edge is a prime example of how the signing of starlets under the age of 18 is a good thing.

The Gunners have shelled out around £100,000 up front for the 6 foot 1 inch powerhouse – who celebrated his 16th birthday yesterday. Under proposed new rules, UEFA President Michel Platini would like to ban such transfers from going through despite the benefits both Arsenal and his previous employers Cheltenham are enjoying.

Arsenal are happy because they have secured the services of one of the most promising midfielders in the country. Edge has been tipped for big things and has already turned in a handful of eye catching performances for Steve Bould’s all conquering Under 18 side.

Jamie is happy because he is developing in such a way that he would never have been able to at Cheltenham. He is in a more professional enviroment surrounded by players of equal ability where he can learn in the right enviroment and become a better player. He has also had the chance to meet his idol Steve Gerrard – as pictured above.

Most importantly and significantly, Cheltenham Town have benefited. Chairman Paul Baker, while disappointed he has lost an exciting and precocious talent, he describes the transfer as ‘excellent’. Arsenal conducted themselves in the correct way, treating this deal as any other instead of Chelsea’s attitude of believing that because a player is young they should cost nothing.

The money is extremely helpful for such a club. The Robins will now be able to plow some of the money into their Academy system and develop a whole new squad of players, while some will be used to fund first-team transfers and pay wages at a club which was days away from going into administration and were offered a £100,000 loan by the local Council.

If done in the correct way, Jamie Edge proves exactly why Under 18 transfers must continue.

Article By – J.Sanderson

21 thoughts on “Edge Deal Shows Why U18 Transfers Must Continue

  • September 10, 2009 at 11:19 am
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    How tall is this guy, How good is he?

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  • September 10, 2009 at 11:21 am
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    Jamie Edge whats his best position centre half or midfield? Is he a roy Kean type leader and dynamo midfidlder?

    BTW JS Luke Freeman i have got toi say impresses me all the time i see him. He does play a bit like David Villa small, squat good dribbler and is a lethal finisher

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  • September 10, 2009 at 11:37 am
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    Rah Steven gerrard is quite tall? I only thought he was 6ft hes looks about 6ft 2/3 in that picture

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  • September 10, 2009 at 11:50 am
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    I think transfer of players from different countries U18 should be stopped.

    However this would mean some clubs would sign players when they are say 11 to avoid the rule.

    Transfer of players U18 in England is what you are after.

    I personally would say a player has to be at the same club from the ages of 11 – 16, and if the original club wants them, and another does, the other club has to pay up.

    U18 is silly, some players are already ready for first tea football by then.

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  • September 10, 2009 at 12:02 pm
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    With some on laon, what sort of side will we put out in the CC ?
    is it worth going to ?
    when is Vela back ?

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  • September 10, 2009 at 12:07 pm
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    i thint that’s the reason so far arsenal have not been mentioned in this “kakuta” controversy. arsenal have always conducted their deals in appropriate manners. arsene wenger is a businessman so he knew how to deal with this sort of things.

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  • September 10, 2009 at 12:37 pm
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    Wenger does the math whether he is buying a 16yr old or a 28yr old, he is not going to just throw money at a problem and hope it goes away, which i think other clubs have been found out to do. Our fans criticise Arsenal cos he will go an pay 1-3 million for a youngster, but if thats what it takes to keep the selling club happy so be it, rather that than pay 100k and 600k to his family to get him to sign!

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  • September 10, 2009 at 12:57 pm
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    if a 16 year old can take paid work and contract, why can not young footballers do so? It would be worse if the situation was similar to basketball players in the us, there they go to colleges and universities to get sponsored education (sometimes) and raw exploitation of the universities to earn money on these talents. One broken leg is what it takes to destroy all the player has worked for, so why not give them security in a contract? Blatter rightly points out to the exploitation of talents thinking they are coming to europe to a big club, promised and paying agents with parents house etc., and ending up as trafficking victims on the streets of the major cities of europe with no way to return

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  • September 10, 2009 at 1:01 pm
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    lots of huge talents of African youth national squads have ended up in that manner, and it is right for the clubs to make sure transfers and deals are made in a proper manner and market controlled.

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  • September 10, 2009 at 1:03 pm
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    in the case mentioned above it is the parents that use their house and assets to pay agent for taking the kid to a promised club in Europe. Blatter has done excellent initiatives to get rid of this trafficking

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  • September 10, 2009 at 1:25 pm
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    This good for everyone. this cuts down the BS. Here in the states we have the sham of athletes pretending to go to college and get a play education when they are there for one thing football or basketball. At least this way is honest. Hope fully this young man will work out. http://bobbygee.wordpress.com/

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  • September 10, 2009 at 3:39 pm
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    hes really good player, played with him last year best of luck to him! :-)

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  • September 10, 2009 at 3:59 pm
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    There seem to be more opinion articles rather than match reports lately.

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  • September 10, 2009 at 8:05 pm
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    Can anyone tell me news on the released lot , what has happened to them.

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  • September 10, 2009 at 8:41 pm
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    The u16s and u18s have played against Birmingham City on the 7th and 5th respectively. And if it’s internationals week, why are there no coverage over our youth and their respective levels/teams, Sam?

    I have nothing against J, this blog is awesome and I read it everyday. I just hope to see more coverage for matches played by our youth. Cheers :D

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  • September 10, 2009 at 10:23 pm
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    I think you’re on to something J. But had he stayed at cheltenham, would his price have not gone up? So instead of getting £100,000 could they not have got, arbitrarily, a mil?

    When people talk about arsenal doing great business, it is often at the expense of the selling club. If we’d bought some of these guys when they were older, the smaller, and more cash strapped selling clubs would do better moneywise than they currently are.

    arsenal seem to be following the rules, and quite rightly. but I think the question really is; should their not be a basic level of compensation set by fifa?

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  • September 11, 2009 at 7:56 am
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    i dont like him i dont think he is all that love yah

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  • September 12, 2009 at 1:33 am
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    put it simply…he’s only just turned 16, he’s in my year at school – yr 11 – and he’s playing for the best U-18s in the country. Says alot about his undounted talent. and by the way…he’s very very scary when playin agenst him!

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