EXCLUSIVE: Danish wonderkid set to join Arsenal's Hale End academy

Steve Kay

• Updated: 18 Dec 2023 22:07 GMT
• 3 min read

Exclusive

Arsenal have moved ahead of several European giants in the pursuit of 15-year-old Danish wonderkid Tristan Panduro from FC Copenhagen, FootballTransfers has been told.

The versatile midfielder is one of the most sought-after young players in Europe. Indeed, the Gunners look to have beaten the likes of Man City, Real Madrid and Barcelona to his signature, who according to our sources, have been watching him closely over the last year. Borussia Dortmund and RB Leipzig had also previously been credited with an interest in the youngster.

Panduro is currently on trial with Arsenal and was in attendance at the weekend's 2-0 home win against Brighton & Hove Albion. He has been strongly advised by his current club to stay in Denmark to develop his career, but the young Dane, who is also eligible to play for England on his mother's side, has always dreamt of playing in the Premier League.

Panduro is already demonstrating very high levels of technical ability, levels above his tender age of 15. He is hoping to follow the path of previous Danish sensations, such as 16-year-old Gunners forward Chido Obi-Martin, to North London.

Copenhagen's talent factory

The teenager is coming through the ranks fast in Denmark and is not expected to stay with the Superliga champions for much longer despite Copenhagen having reached the Champions League knockout stages for only the second time in their history this term.

The Danish outfit, incredibly, achieved a second-place finish in a Champions League group containing Bayern Munich, Galatasaray and Man Utd, beating the latter in Copenhagen.

They did this while showing immense faith in young players such as Roony Bardghji, Elias Jelert, Orri Oskarsson and Oscar Hojlund, the brother of Man Utd forward Rasmus.

Tristan Aldcroft Panduro's path to the first team in Copenhagen would not be blocked, but a move to Arsenal appears to be an opportunity too good to turn down for a player with English roots. The 15-year-old is the son of one-time Danish U21 international Morten Panduro.