Arsenal targets James Scanlon, Habeeb Ogunneye from Manchester United

Arsenal are looking to pry two young talents away from Manchester United’s academy this summer, targeting attacking midfielder James Scanlon and right-back Habeeb Ogunneye as part of what has been an active transfer window for the north London club.

Who are Scanlon and Ogunneye?

James Scanlon, born on September 28, 2006, is a 19-year-old who operates as an attacking midfielder and left winger. He joined Manchester United’s academy from Derby County in 2023 and has been productive at youth level, scoring multiple goals across the Under-18 and Under-21 setups.

Scanlon represents Gibraltar at senior level and managed to score on his debut for the national team.

Habeeb Ogunneye is slightly older at 20, born on November 12, 2005. The English right-back joined United’s academy in 2022 and got his first taste of senior football on loan at Newport County during the first half of the 2025/26 season. He was recalled in January 2026, but that loan spell remains his only experience outside the youth setup.

Neither player has featured in a Premier League match for Manchester United.

Arsenal’s academy strategy

The summer 2026 transfer window has been open since June, and Arsenal have already been busy with higher-profile business. Adding two young players from United’s academy would be a quieter, lower-cost move.

Manchester United’s academy dilemma

No transfer fees or timelines have been publicly disclosed for either potential deal. It’s worth noting that reports of this nature surface frequently during transfer windows, and not all of them materialize into actual moves.

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