SURPRISING TRANSFER CONFIRMED: Fabrizio, Kinsella, and Di Marzio report that Arsenal will unexpectedly receive a significant £21M transfer fee for an unnamed academy graduate.

Arsenal has often been criticized for not securing substantial transfer fees for their academy graduates, especially when compared to clubs like Liverpool and Chelsea. This perception, however, is starting to shift significantly under the management of Edu, Arsenal’s sporting director. The club has recently managed to negotiate impressive transfer deals for some of its young talents.

For instance, they secured a £40 million transfer fee for Folarin Balogun, finalized a £35 million deal for Emile Smith Rowe, and even turned down a £27 million bid for Eddie Nketiah, setting his value at £35 million.

In a surprising development, reports from Gianluca Di Marzio on Monday revealed that Serie A club Genoa has agreed to a permanent deal for Arsenal’s 20-year-old academy product, Brooke Norton-Cuffy. This move marks another instance of Arsenal’s growing ability to command respectable fees for their young players.

According to football transfer expert Fabrizio Romano, Arsenal will receive a fixed fee of €2 million (£1.71 million) for Norton-Cuffy’s transfer, with additional add-ons included.

BBC Sport’s Nizaar Kinsella further reported that the total fee could rise to £3.5 million, and Arsenal has also secured a sell-on clause, ensuring they benefit from any future transfers involving Norton-Cuffy.

Last season, Norton-Cuffy was on loan at Millwall in the Championship, where he made 40 appearances, scored two goals, and provided four assists. He started regularly during the first half of the season but was used more as a substitute from February onward. Despite his fluctuating role, Norton-Cuffy impressed with his performances during his loan spell.

Upon his return from Millwall, Norton-Cuffy did not participate in Arsenal’s pre-season activities, as he was looking to secure a move elsewhere. With a medical examination scheduled for later this week, his transfer to Genoa is expected to be finalized soon.

In conclusion, Arsenal will receive an upfront fee of £1.7 million for Norton-Cuffy, with the potential for an additional £1.8 million if certain performance-based targets are met at Genoa.

Moreover, the inclusion of a sell-on clause in the deal highlights Arsenal’s growing competence in the transfer market, reflecting a more strategic and financially savvy approach to player sales.