Benik Afobe will sign his first professional contract with Arsenal on Monday. The powerful striker has spurned the advances of Barcelona and will commit his long-term the future after enjoying his first full season in the Under 18’s.
Leyton-born Afobe was first introduced to readers on Young Guns and his rise from promising school boy to SkySports Victory Shield hero and now professional football has been epic. In his 13 games for the Under 18’s this term he has 12 goals plus a bag full of assists. International duty beckons for Benik who has 4 goals in 3 games for England’s Under 17’s, meaning he has signed the deal early before linking up with the Three Lions later in the week and enjoying his 17th birthday.
Catalan giants FC Barcelona invited Afobe to Spain earlier in the season and they had even gone as far as making a formal offer for the prospect. Yet Benik has turned down their advances believing he had a larger chance of making the grade with Arsenal. Already sponsored by Nike, the striker impressed Arsène Wenger during training last week and was subsequently brought off the bench during the friendly with Dagenham and Redbridge on Wednesday. He was also the youngest player in the squad.
Young Guns would like to offer our congratulations to Benik and wish him all the best in the future.
In a side note, I’d also like to extend my thanks to all readers who left me birthday messages today, your continued support has been fantastic.
Article By – J.Sanderson
47 Responses to "Benik Afobe To Sign Professional Arsenal Contract"
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comment by Arse&Nose
Happy birthday JS !
Great news about Afobe!
comment by Hatchet
Great news for the club and happy birthday J….enjoy yourself.
comment by Jonathan
Happy Birthday J. How would you compare Benik and Wellington? They must be the two most exciting prospects at the club
comment by JohnV
Glad to see that Benik has decided to stay at the gunners I hope he lives up to his promise as it would be great to see him make it. I would prefer to see Benik make it even more than Luke Freeman as Benik is from the academy hopefully he can be our answer to United’s Danny Wellbeck
comment by Liferexall
Оh to be a.. blogger, even on his birthday. Cheers, J. Have a good one.
comment by ROSICKNOTE
HAPPY BIRTHDAY MATE!
comment by Gun_1
Great news…he has a huge future.
Keep up the great work J.
comment by chris
great news, he sounds like a really big prospect, the first team could do with him now!.. and happy birthday mate!
comment by chambwe
Cul u no ov late Barca r trying 2 steal our players. Cesc wit his “Barca DNA” Eboue, Benik en Chukes. Wats up wit dat.
comment by abdallah Nsouli
Happy Birthday JS & keep up the good work !! Always look forward to reading whats on your website.
comment by AndyB
happy birthday J, enjoy yourself. Great news about Benik, I think he will go on to the carling cup squad next season.
comment by s
Great news, Beniks a huge talent!
Happy Birthday J
comment by soccerfanbase.com
Great news. I am happy the young lad will not be joining Barca. Any news on Aneke as well? I am interested in him cos he is Nigerian like me. Would be bad if we lose him to Barca. Barca should lose players to us not us to them. Though they can have Fabregas in 5 years time for 80 million euors.
Hi Jamie, sorry I have not emailed you, I have been travelling lots these days. We definitely email you when I have settled down.
comment by John
happy Birthday J great news
comment by gunner4life
happy b’day mate….thanx a lot!!!
comment by Kenyan Gunner
Happy B-day from east africa. Love your blog!
comment by Omar
Happy Birthday J hav a great one! Keep up the good work n great news on afobe
comment by KG
Happy Birthday!!
Keep up the good work
comment by Milo
Heyhappy birthday J!! Read this site everyday!!
To Soccerfanbase.com: Aneke already rejected Barca. He didn’t even check out their facilities like Benik did!!:D HAHA Barca can have Cesc, and then they can fuck off forever. I used to like them more than Real, but now I just hate both. It’s a shame because i admire the style with which they play, but the club’s management are all schmucks.
comment by Woodman
Wow, great news!
Also, appy birthday to you J, keep up the good work!
comment by GrantGooner
Finally,id say.Been baffling as to why Benik hasnt been given a contract all along…happy birthday, J. Hey, does anyone have a link to Benik’s goals? iv bin searching for over a year now
comment by Bedeuro
Happy Birthday J
comment by Bedeuro
Of what descent is he?
and aneke also?
comment by DutchGooner10
HAPPY BIRTHDAY J
THANKS FOR ALL THOSE UPDATES AND INSIGHTS OVER THE YEAR ABOUT THE PLANKTON OF OUR CLUB. WHAT MANY FELLOW GOONERS FAIL TO APPRECIATE HAPPENS HERE ON YOUNG BLOG. WENGER IS THE BEST THING THAT HAS – AND EVER WILL – HAPPEN TO US.
IF YOU SUPPORT ARSENAL, YOU SUPPORT A PHILOSOPHY.
WE ARE KNOW THROUGHOUT THE WORLD FOR OUR TOTAL APPROACH. TO ME THE YOUNGGUNS COMPLETES THAT FEELING ON THE LEVEL OF BEING A FAN.
CHEERS ON BEHAVE OF MANY GOONERS HERE IN HOLLAND MAY MANY MORE YEARS COME TO CONGRATULATE YOU.
comment by John Igabu
Happy Birthday my future star
comment by David
Happy Birthday fella!
Great blog, and this is great news, keep up the good work mate!
comment by TheSKAGooner
Good, good news for Afobe & Arsenal.
Happy birthday, J.
comment by james
Happy Birthday, Sanderson.
Could you give us Arsenal’s line-up against Dagenham and Redbridge?
comment by Tiamiyu B Bashir
tank GOD he only check dr so cald facilities. gud luk 2 him & hope 2 c him in d 1st team very soon. Hapy Birthday J. S
comment by giandano
Happy Birthday J!! How old are u btw…?
comment by foeg
in 3 years afobe > adebayor…
Happy Birthday Jamie!
comment by Bedeuro
Giandano, 19 I think
comment by Holohoax
Benik could well be on his way out the door now that Sanderson says that he’s signed up.
comment by Julian H
Wonderful story, on a top, top blog (as Jamie Redknappism).
Up the Arse!
Have a good weekend, all.
comment by Kentpaul
Happy birthday JS.
comment by Tunde ikokoro
From Nigerian gunners Happy birthday JS.Afobe is capable of breaking all the record set by the great Thiery
comment by TomMusso
Happy buffday J.
Nice to see the kid keep it in the family too.
comment by David Gunner, gunner get ya
Great news!
Happy birthday J
comment by Bedeuro
CAN SOMEONE PLZ TELL ME WHAT DESCENT AFOBE N’ ANEKE ARE OF?
comment by TJ DA GOON
Afobe’s Congolese and Aneke is Nigerian.
comment by Bedeuro
Thankyou TJ,
comment by Bedeuro
Just realised how our England kit looks nice
So what was the news wiv Zk ansah.
comment by MattMQ
Js, Enjoy your birthday! Peace.. Go Gunners!
comment by B.A
Happy bd J…hope u are drunk by now…lol
comment by J.Sanderson
Thank you for all your kind birthday wishes guys. If somebody can summerise the questions I can answer them for you.
comment by David Gunner, gunner get ya
This is scary!
A strike partnership of Afobe and Wellington!
Cant wait!!!!
comment by Wole
Great to have you J