Arsenal Offering Professional Contract to Academy Star Khayon Edwards

Khayon Edwards has been extremely impressive for Arsenal this season. He currently has a scholarship deal with the Gunners which is set to expire this summer. According to Football.London, Arsenal are ready to offer a new professional contract to the young sensation. Only Folarin Balogun is involved in more goals than Khayon Edwards at the youth level.

The 18-year-old forward has scored 17 goals and has assisted 6 times in 22 appearances in all competitions this season (stats via Transfermarkt). Now those are pretty good stats for a player who is just getting started. Edwards also has the same agent as Bukayo Saka and Folarin Balogun. This has increased the hopes of Arsenal in agreeing to a contract extension with the player.

Khayon Edwards playing for Arsenal, Khayon Edwards, Arsenal — Image obtained via Daily Mail

Many of the Arsenal players who are on a scholarship deal have received new contracts. Some of them have reached agreements too. Whereas the club has negotiations going on with other players. Goalkeeper Remy Mitchell is the only one who has not been offered a professional contract. However, offering a contract to Khayon Edwards is a no-brainer considering how prolific he has been for the club in such a short span of time.

How Much Can Khayon Edwards Help Arsenal In The Future?

Khayon Edwards is 18-years-old and is an important part of the U18 squad. He has been constantly scoring for the youth side that too on a scholarship deal. A professional contract can boost his confidence and eventually his performance too. Very few players have such an impressive record at this age even at the youth level.

Arsenal are experiencing a striker crisis as they do not have a designated striker for the next season. Aubameyang left Arsenal to join Barcelona in January. Whereas both Alexandre Lacazette and Eddie Nketiah have contracts expiring at the end of this season. There are also no extensions agreed with other of the players whatsoever.

Khayon Edwards celebrating for Arsenal, Khayon Edwards, Arsenal — Image obtained via Football.London

Arsenal will surely have to make a few striker signings in the summer. However, those strikers will also need replacing after some seasons. That is when Khayon Edwards will step up. He can be a long-term striker at Arsenal and considering he is an academy product, he will be more suited for the job. Arsenal just has to help the player develop and help him reach his peak potential.

Is Edwards Really Capable Of Being The Main Striker For The Gunners In The Future?

Khayon Edwards has been really prolific for the Arsenal youth side this season. He has scored 17 goals in total out of which 16 goals came in 16 appearances with the U18 side. He has also found the back of the net in the Premier League 2 Cup once in two appearances. Not only has he been a consistent goal-scorer, but he has also assisted 6 times in his 22 appearances.

Such kind of statistics certainly shows that he has something more than the other players in his age group. He still has a long way to go and has to learn a lot more things. However, Mikel Arteta is praised for his work on improving the youngsters. Arsenal’s younger players have heavily profited from Arteta’s management and Khayon Edwards could also be a product of that.

Edwards currently plays under Arsenal’s academy manager Per Mertesacker. The former Arsenal player has a vision of producing strong young Gunners who can face any challenge. This will be very beneficial for Khayon Edwards as he will certainly face a lot of competition going forward. If Arsenal gives him the right opportunities then he has the potential to be one of the best strikers in the Premier League in the future.

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