Arsenal are among a number of clubs hoping to sign Irish youngster Mason Melia, but they won’t be able to do so just yet.

Simon Collings reports for The Standard that Arsenal are among a number of Premier League clubs hoping to sign St. Patrick’s Athletic youngster Mason Melia.

Arsenal scouts have reportedly been watching Melia for 18 months, but they aren’t the only ones, with Manchester City and Brighton and Hove Albion also interested.

As it stands, Arsenal are unable to sign Melia, however. Just 16 years old, he won’t be eligible to join the Gunners until he turns 18 in September 2025.

Melia has already made 33 appearances for St. Pat’s despite his young age, scoring six goals and assisting two in 1,097 minutes. That’s a goal contribution every 137 minutes.

The 16-year-old also plays for the Republic of Ireland u17s, for whom he has 10 goals and three assists in 22 games (17 starts).

It’s no surprise so many Premier League clubs are taking an interest, but they’ll have to wait a little longer before they can make their move.

Given Melia is under contract with his current club until 2026, he won’t be a free agent next September when he turns 18. So Arsenal would have to wait until the January 2026 window to finalise a deal.

According to The Standard, Melia is likely to stick around at St. Pat’s until then, opting against the alternative option of a move to mainland Europe in the meantime.