Brooke Norton-Cuffy joined first-team training with Arsenal this week, after signing his new contract with the club.

Arsenal 18-year-old Brooke Norton-Cuffy could be seen involved in group training sessions with the first team this week, ahead of their next game against Bournemouth.

The young right-back recently signed a new deal with the Gunners, putting pen to paper to extend a spell that was previously set to end in 2023.

Arsenal rate the defender highly, and it’s always good experience to get involved with the senior sessions. But Norton-Cuffy is currently still likely to go out on loan this season.

Speaking after his contract signing, Norton-Cuffy confirmed reports that a loan is likely – ideally to the Championship.

“Yeah, it’s looking likely to be another loan move,” Norton-Cuffy said. “Hopefully, I’ll go to a Championship side and we’ll see what the Championship has to offer.”

Norton-Cuffy had a very strong first loan spell in senior football last season, joining Lincoln City in League One. He made 17 appearances in a few months with the side and earned plenty of praise.

A step up to the Championship seems like the logical next step, particularly given there isn’t much of an opening in the first team for the coming campaign.

Takehiro Tomiyasu is returning from injury to find he has new competition in the form of Ben White at right-back, with Cedric Soares still at the club, and Ainsley Maitland-Niles for cover.

Norton-Cuffy will get his opportunities eventually, if he keeps developing as he has done so far.