Arsenal and Liverpool in dispute over star, 16: Clubs heading for a tribunal after failing to agree compensation deal following player’s decision to leave the Reds
Liverpool and Arsenal are heading to a tribunal after failing to agree compensation for 16-year-old prospect Vincent Joseph.
The highly-rated striker, who had appeared for the club’s U18s, decided to leave Liverpool last month despite the fact they offered the teenager a scholarship, which had to be signed by July 1. He declined the offer amid interest from the likes of Manchester United, Chelsea, Bayern Munich and Borussia Dortmund.
However, it is Premier League champions Arsenal who have won the race for the talented number nine’s signature.
They have since been in talks with Liverpool over compensation but they have been unable to find common ground and amid the stand-off are now on a collision course for a tribunal to determine the fee due to the Anfield club.
The last teenager to leave Liverpool for another Premier League side was Isaac Moran.
The 17-year-old England youth international left for Newcastle United earlier this year and signed his professional contract in March. Again the clubs failed to agree on compensation and a subsequent tribunal resulted in a seven-figure fee being ordered payable to Liverpool with the settlement for the midfielder having the potential to reach £5m.
Arsenal and Liverpool are heading to a tribunal after failing to agree compensation for 16-year-old Vincent Joseph
Teenage striker Joseph decided to leave Liverpool last month despite being offered a scholarship
A tribunal ruled in February that Liverpool had to pay Chelsea £2.8m rising through add-ons to £4m after they signed Rio Ngumoha from the Blues
The battle for rising Premier League talents has become all the more costly and cut-throat in recent years.
Liverpool fended off strong interest from Manchester City, Arsenal and potentially Real Madrid to secure 16-year-old winger Josh Abe this summer. They also tied up dynamic attacking midfielder Erik Farkas despite City and United both trying plus clubs from Germany and Spain.
On the flip side, Liverpool previously angered Chelsea when they took Rio Ngumoha away from them last year.
The England international was regarded as the best player in his age group at Chelsea, but moved to Liverpool because he believed there was a better pathway to first-team football.
The 17-year-old left Chelsea in September 2024 and signed his first professional contract with Liverpool a year later.
The Professional Football Compensation Committee (PFCC) tribunal decided in February that Liverpool must pay £2.8m which could rise through add-ons to £4m while Chelsea will also be owed 20 percent of the profit if Ngumoha is sold.
The teenager scored on his Premier League debut in August aged 16 years and 361 days at the time, making him the youngest goalscorer in Liverpool’s history.