Arsenal have agreed a deal to sign IFK Norrköping midfielder Kristoffer Olsson, following two successive trials. The 15-year-old will complete the transfer in the summer.
Olsson joined fellow countryman Robert Mirosavic on trial in November, where they both played in a behind closed doors friendly against Charlton Athletic. Arsenal won 6-0, with Olsson on the score sheet. Liam Brady then invited both back for another run out in February, where the coaching staff were again impressed.
The duo were both expected to be named in Arsenal’s Under 16 squad for the Ferrolli Cup next month, but after neither were named, Brady’s interest appeared to have wavered. However, amid interest from Juventus, Arsenal moved in for Olsson.
The stylish central midfielder, who represents Sweden at Under 16 level, will cost Arsenal an undisclosed compensation fee of around £100,000, a figure that IFK director Tony Martinsson confirmed was the largest received in their history. It appears that management may be running up the club credit cards, as there is debate as to whether Arsenal can afford both the wages and transfer fees involved.
Olsson is due in London shortly to sign scholarships forms with the Gunners. He is Arsenal’s fourth signing in recent months, following deals for German duo Serge Gnabry and Leander Siemann, plus Spanish midfielder Jon Toral.
See? The fact we actually pay money for these kids only proves Barcelona are that annoying lol always moaning.
Wow! Another one! Thanks for the update!
So what happened to Robert Mirosavic? Has he joined aswel?
Not sure myself…
Do you mean Robert Mirosavic sign Arsenal as well?
Is this the guy that was hesistant about signing with us? He looks hot.
Sounds promising – Good luck to him!
Any news on Mirosavic?
Another midfielder ….
You would have thought that with the likes of Jack Jebb,Toral and Bunjaku( although he will be probably promoted to the Reserves next season) , we don’t need any more midfielders for the Under 18s next season.
I’m guessing they are trying to create a “survival of the fittest” environment of sorts. Competition can show the making of a man.
For the love God how about a mature n grown up midfielder Arsene? *hint* Shweinsteiger. We’ve got so many kids and majority of them won’t make it anyway….
so you’re donating 50 million to Arsenal. DO that and I am sure wenger can work something out
Mate we are not City, United, Chelsea who can splash the cash and then let their owners worry about the debt
Plus its not just about the transfer fees its also the wages as well they might be able to afford the wages but not the transfer fees
Plus I love our first XI I seriously think its the best in England and second only to Barca what we need to do is improve the backup.
Get rid of Denilson, Almunia even B52 (who I think is a good young ST just not suited to our style of play)
Perhaps that has something to do with the transfer window being closed.
Dunno but maybe.
I agree we need experience but not on the creative side in midfield. Defensive minded soldiers is what we need. Someone like Keita, Mascherano, Motta, Melo…etc.
Ah, the mysterious ways of Liam Brady and Arsenal youth recruitment. Keep everyone on their toes I say!
J. have you got a man on the ground in Italy? This Ferrolli cup gig could be the most exciting thing going if the seniors blow the title run in by then. And Dallas?
A record fee of 100 000?? Haha..
I love the fact that these players are so cheap.
If even one of them makes it then we are in a profit and if you go on hype then Toral might even go straight into our first team a lot like Cesc and how much did he cost 250K.
Just to clrar some points up:
Arsenal have only signed Olsson, not Mirosavic. No word yet on whether he’ll be signed as well, although it is looking unlikely at the moment.
Olsson will play for the Under 16’s next season, with a few fringe matches with the Under 18’s, so he’s not really competition yet for some of the names mentioned above.
Jay
Why this focus on centre midfielders its madness
We have Fabergas, Ramsey, Wilshere, Song, all young players in the 1st team then theres Frimpong, Coquelin, Landbury, Aneke, Bunjaku, Toral and Jebb.
I think that Pool has the centre cover for many years to coem why not focus on defenders, strikers and wingers.
This is a new thing and we can see that in the 1st team today. Only Bendtner and Clichy, Djourou has come through the youth ranks.
szczesny?
I am sure we take on whatever talent that is available with the needed quality.
Either they are good enough to over take other players or they don’t make it.
we look for talented player but we are more attracted to talented offensive player does that really surprise you?
even our defenders like to get forward
I do not understand why some Gooners get all upset when we bring in 15/16 year olds.
We educate talented teenagers and give them a good start in life. They either thrive and develop into top talents which either get moved on for much more than we accuired them for (this funds our development system) or they turn into first team players.
Clichy, Song, Cesc, RVP, Wilshere, Djourou et al. Is that really a problem?
It does not impact on our purchases for the first team Arshavin, Sagna, Nasri, Walcott, Vermaelen, Koscielny to name a few.
I wonder if any are moaning about picking up Cesc at 15?……
Thought not
Because some Gooners think they know better than the people running the club.
They love gabbing off on how things are being done all wrong.
his interview after his initial trial
http://translate.google.co.nz/translate?hl=en&sl=sv&u=http://www.nt.se/nyheter/artikel.aspx%3Farticleid%3D6411115&ei=lImTTaiYGoSGvAOK65S9CA&sa=X&oi=translate&ct=result&resnum=4&ved=0CDsQ7gEwAzg8&prev=/search%3Fq%3DKristoffer%2BOlsson%26start%3D60%26hl%3Den%26client%3Dfirefox-a%26hs%3DVwM%26sa%3DN%26rls%3Dorg.mozilla:en-US:official%26prmd%3Divnso
hey Jay.
Swedish media has talked to the agent of the player who says that a deal has not been struck yet but will most likely be done soon.
http://www.aftonbladet.se/sportbladet/fotboll/internationell/england/article12808689.ab
Good news for the future, what about now?
This site is about the future bro. If you want one about the now go on Le Grove.
i suppose you mean that if “you want” rubbish, go to Le Grove?
Why do people come to a youth site to complain about us signing youth players? Anyways, the list of teenagers that we almost signed who went on to be world class players is pretty long so I would like us to sign every quality youth talent possible.
“Good news for the future, what about now?” What a redundant statement. This is a youth blog. It also happens to be one of the only interesting and informative Arsenal blogs out there. And it was a long time before you other-side-of-the-world-know-nothing-reactionary-armchair-managers started riffing on here. I think it’s more that these “fans” can’t comprehend just how far Arsene’s responsibilities lie. Don’t worry, Gabriel, us bringing in a prospective world-class midfielder to the youth team will not affect potential first team signings.
I agree with everything you said – except the ‘other-side-of-the-world’ bit. A person’s postal code has zero impact on their understanding of football. Once, I met this guy from Islington who did not know shit about football or the Arse.
daily didnt publish this article does that mean their employies r on strick
daily mail didn’t publish this article does that mean they r not aware of it if so someone should run down to their main office & thrash them for not copoy correctly.lol
hmmm but we r signing relatively unknown whilst chelsea just signed that brazilian teen whom already seems to be a superstar,we signed wellington but it’s not a great move judging by the reports surfing from levante.players like ganso,neymar seems to have disappeared completely off arsenal’s radar.really excited about about toral,gnabry,& olsson.we need scouts tabbing on the best in spain,france & portugal.the u18 this season have been horrible,& i’m being kind.lol
These brazilians are not in the price range Arsenal usually spends. Neymar and Ganso would require something like £30mi. Piazon was sold for 6mi euros, almost 2x the price Arsenal paid for Wellington, in almost the same situation (untested in professional level, has to stay in Brazil until 18th birthday). Just not gonna happen.
Good morning Gooners. guys we talk alot about buying players of quality of which I agree with. it is true that we need a strong and though central midfielder who can share the experience with Frimpong. people we all seen what this boy can do and this season he should be promoted to the first team and if that doesn’t happen I think I’ll think twice about not watching Arsenal games again. I’ve seen Wenger give chance to his lazy and uninterested players from France who don’t seem to understand that Arsenal wants to win always. of course we do need a goalkeeper of vast experience so that the young pole2 can learn to conduct and communicate with the back four.
We also need a striker that is going to be a bully who’s not going to give backline a chance to breath.
I’m done.
South African Gooner
Unintrested French players? what are you smoking, Viera, Pires and especially Henry (who loves his beloved Arsenal) where they lazy and uninterested? Denilson – Brazialian, Bendtner – Danish they are lazy but to say Sagna and Kozza are lazy and uniterested is ludicrous, Squillaci is rhubarb but you cant get them all right
Why are you calling out our french players? They have been some of our best players this year. Nasri and Sagna have been awesome and Koscielny and Clichy have been good for the most part as well. Diaby has just been injured.
He is not Ljunberg or Larrsson or Ibrahimovich,but promising youngster..again!!!
promising youngster sign by the academy who have their own bugget ,story publish on the youth blog ho my god ,,hhaaaaaaaaaaa
shot the writer who should publish story and news about youth player instead feeding your fantasy about suppose to be world class player
I can’t understand some of these comments. I would also like to see 1 or 2 top signings for our first team but whether we do or don’t it doesn’t alter the need to keep looking for the best at all ages. I remember the same type of cynics saying this when we signed Cesc. Had Wenger managed to sign Messi they would have said the same then. We need to compete in 10 years time and not just tomorrow. However. tomorrow would still be good!
certainly those brazilians costs more than wellinton,botehlo,denilson.but my real question is why cant arsenal scouts identify them @ a young age buy them & keep em there.dodo is another name which is interesting.plus we need to look @ other spanish clubs besides barcelona who sign lots of players from other clubs in spain.rossi is another player whom could make a difference.question is whether arsenal will loan out lansbury to a epl side.bedtner needs to leave seem goes for almunia,denilson lazylaci & rosicky , watt,hoyte,randell,arshavin.it’s not gonna be easy but theses sales could enroll some dough.hazard goetze canales will be alright plus if cesc leaves we need aguero or neymar.if wenger doesnt consent then we’ll hv to sadly part ways.hope he sees the truth cos he’s a great manager
Mstq quote ” if wenger doesn’t consent then we’ll hv to sadly part way” Then be prepare too say good bye to Arsenal Mstq, because I don’t think Arsenal going to release Arsene in near future. even if he no longer the manager, I believe they will keep him in Arsenal.
I’m from Norrköping (the home town of Kristoffer Olsson) and I’ve played with him. Even though I’m 8 years older than the lad he showed some sick talent very early. I firmly believe he’ll be an impact player for Arsenal in a few years.