TRANSFER SHOCKER: Arsenal’s Hidden Gem Sold!

Arsenal has reached an agreement to transfer the promising 20-year-old midfielder, Charlie Patino, to Spanish club Deportivo La Coruña. Patino, who joined Arsenal’s renowned Hale End Academy from Luton Town in 2015, spent the previous season on loan at Swansea City in the Championship, following a successful stint with Blackpool.

The England U21 international had just one year left on his contract with Arsenal, but with limited opportunities in the first team, all parties agreed that a move was the best option. Deportivo will pay around £1 million for Patino, and Arsenal has secured a significant sell-on clause, ensuring future financial benefits if Patino is sold again.

Patino only made two senior appearances for Arsenal, scoring in a 5-1 Carabao Cup quarter-final victory against Sunderland in December 2021. Although Arsenal had activated a one-year extension in his contract last summer to maintain his market value, they were open to offers, but none met their expectations.

Patino was notably absent from Arsenal’s recent pre-season tour in the United States, and his unexpected move to Spain’s Segunda División is expected to be finalized soon, barring any last-minute complications. There has always been a belief that Patino’s technical skills might be better suited to the playing styles in Spain or Italy, and he will now have the chance to prove himself abroad.

In the meantime, Arsenal is closing in on the signing of Real Sociedad midfielder Mikel Merino, a move that would likely have pushed Patino further down the pecking order. Sociedad president Jokin Aperribay is currently in London to finalize the deal, with reports suggesting a proposed £34 million package, including £30 million upfront and £4 million in add-ons. However, no final agreement has been reached, and negotiations continue, with Merino’s absence from training fueling speculation about his future.