Brooke Norton-Cuffy has signed a new contract with Arsenal and confirmed he’s likely to go on loan to the Championship.

As reported by David Ornstein earlier this week, Arsenal have now confirmed that Brooke Norton-Cuffy has signed a new contract with the club.

The Arsenal defender was set to enter the final 12 months of his contract, but he’s now put pen to paper on a new deal that will secure his future with the Gunners.

That obviously gives Arsenal some short-term flexibility to loan the youngster out for this year, and Norton-Cuffy has confirmed reports that a loan is likely – ideally to the Championship.

“Yeah, it’s looking likely to be another loan move,” Norton-Cuffy confirmed. “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.

Even in the youth team, Norton-Cuffy is competing with Reuell Walters, although Walters mostly played centre-back for Arsenal in pre-season.

The 18-year-old will get his opportunities eventually, if he keeps developing as he has done so far. A new contract and a good loan will keep his progression going in the meantime.