Talented youth midfielder Charlie Patino is likely to be offered a new contract by Arsenal in October, once he turns 18.

Charlie Patino with the Arsenal u18s (Photo via Patino on Instagram)
Charlie Patino with the Arsenal u18s (Photo via Patino on Instagram)

Football.London report that Charlie Patino is expected to stay at Arsenal next season, featuring more regularly for the u23s and integrating into the first team. Per Mertesacker has reportedly earmarked him as a potential future first-team regular.

Charles Watts also reported the same thing recently, telling his YouTube channel Patino wasn’t being earmarked for a loan and was more likely to follow Bukayo Saka’s career path, joining the u23s before linking up straight with the first team.

In October, when he turns 18, Football.London add that it’s likely Patino will be offered a new contract with Arsenal.

Patino signed his first professional contract with the club last October, days after his 17th birthday – which is when you become eligible for a pro deal.

The problem is that you can only sign for two full seasons plus the current campaign when you sign your first professional contract. So Arsenal couldn’t tie the teenager down past 2023.

Once he’s 18, the Gunners will presumably try to extend that to 2025 or beyond. The midfielder is clearly seen as a big talent and they’ll want to keep him around for the long term.

Patino started to make the step up to the Arsenal u23s this season, beginning the campaign with the u18s before making four appearances for Steve Bould’s side from late January to mid-February, scoring against the Chelsea u23s.

Unfortunately, just as he was hitting his stride with the team, Patino was forced out of action with a hamstring injury. He didn’t return for the remainder of the season, but he appeared to be close to a comeback by the end of the campaign.

Patino is now reportedly hard at work in the gym looking to boost his physicality ahead of the new campaign.