West Bromwich Albion youth forward Reyes Cleary has decided to leave the club amid links to Arsenal in recent months.

Reyes Cleary with West Bromwich Albion (Photo via Getty Images)
Reyes Cleary with West Bromwich Albion (Photo via Getty Images)

The Express and Star report that Reyes Cleary has decided to leave West Bromwich Albion, rejecting a professional contract with the club.

West Brom were offering what they believed to be an attractive financial package, but Cleary informed them in March that he would be leaving.

That decision is reportedly why Cleary dropped down to the West Brom u18s in April, having spent most of the season in the u23s before.

YouthHawk write that Cleary is the only player in Category One academy football this season to score double figures in both the u23s (13 goals) and the u18s (22 goals).

The Daily Mail reported in March that Arsenal had joined the race to sign Cleary. The Gunners join Newcastle, Everton, and Bayern Munich in pursuing the 18-year-old.

The 17-year-old scored home and away against the Arsenal u23s in the Premier League Cup group stage this season, so he made himself hard to ignore.

Lino Sousa training with the Arsenal first-team (Photo via Sousa on Instagram)
Lino Sousa training with the Arsenal first-team (Photo via Sousa on Instagram)

Arsenal have already made one signing from West Brom this season, bringing in Lino Sousa in the January transfer window.

The Gunners may be on the lookout for a new youth centre-forward this summer, given the movement in the position over the last few months.

Folarin Balogun and Nikolaj Moller went out on loan, and you’d expect them to move on further loans next season. Mika Biereth could also do with a loan, whilst Amani Richards has left for Leicester City.

Khayon Edwards will remain with Arsenal after reports of his contract extension, but Cleary could provide him with competition, or a strike partner.