Arsenal agree surprise deadline day deal for Championship defender

Arsenal have made a transfer deadline day signing as they have snapped up teenage defender Jaden Dixon from Stoke City.

The 18-year-old started his career with Tottenham, but moved north to join Stoke in 2023, making his professional debut a year later.

Opportunities in the first team under Mark Robins have proved difficult to come by, but Dixon has picked up international experience.

The defender has been capped up to Under-19 level for England, making his debut for that team last year.

The teenager now makes a huge step up to Arsenal, signing a four-year deal with the Premier League leaders.

Transfer expert Fabrizio Romano reports that the Gunners have paid an initial £3.2m for Dixon, with potential add-ons.

There was interest from elsewhere, but Dixon has opted to return to London and join the side which topped the Champions League group stage table.

He will join the Arsenal academy, hoping to quickly make an impact in the Under-21 side and work his way towards the first team.

Dixon did not take long to make his way through the ranks at Stoke after joining from Spurs as a 16-year-old.

Speaking in 2024, he said: ‘My time at Stoke so far has been pretty much perfect. Since I have been here, the love I have been shown is great, this is a real family club.

‘I feel like they have trusted me and put a lot of faith in me. They did that by putting me into the Under-21s straight away and I’ve just been able to thrive from there.’

Ryan Shawcross is now coaching at Stoke, having been a stalwart of the club’s time in the Premier League, and Dixon has credited the England international centre-back for helping his development.

‘It’s great working with Ryan, he’s got amazing experience, and he can tell me how I need to improve from those experiences he has had,’ said Dixon.

‘That’s from both a defensive and attacking point of view as well, he is a great person to have in your corner.

‘After games, we will sit through the match and analyse some clips just to see where I can get better and what I am doing well at the moment.’