Arsenal have finally confirmed the reports that top-scoring academy striker Khayon Edwards has signed a new deal with the club.

Arsenal have confirmed this week that Khayon Edwards has signed his first professional contract with the club.

The 18-year-old’s previous contract was set to expire this summer, leaving him free to join a new club for no more than a training compensation fee.

Edwards scored 21 goals in all competitions this season, more than anyone else in the academy, as well as providing five assists for his teammates.

The Athletic’s David Ornstein reported in early May that Edwards signed a new deal to 2025. It’s just taken a little while to get official confirmation from Arsenal.

The expectation is that the player will remain with the Arsenal u23s next season and push for first-team minutes, rather than going on loan.

As Daily Cannon exclusively reported back in December, Ornstein confirmed that Chelsea and Brighton & Hove Albion were among the clubs circling for Edwards if he didn’t sign a new deal.

“I’m very delighted to have signed my first professional contract,” Edwards told Arsenal.

“I’ve worked hard for this moment. It’s been a very important season for me, but now it’s time to step up and prove what I’ve proved time and time again.”

Edwards was starting to break into the u23s more regularly in 2022, but he suffered an injury ending his season in late February.

He’ll now hope that Arsenal’s other youth strikers – Folarin Balogun, Nikolaj Moller, Tyreece John-Jules, and Mika Biereth – will go out on loan or join the first team next season, with three of them already earning loan moves this campaign.

That would free up a regular starting spot in the u23s for Edwards, and leave him available for any spare minutes at first-team level.