Arsenal have agreed a deal that will see them pay up to £9m for 16-year-old twins Edwin and Holger Quintero, in one of the most expensive youth double signings made by the club.
The brothers arrived in London earlier this week to finalise the agreement but will not formally join until the summer of 2027, when they turn 18. Current regulations do not allow them to move before that.
Both are believed to have signed five year contracts that will run until 2032.
The fee was first reported by Alex Howell of the BBC and reflects the level of investment Arsenal are prepared to make in elite teenage talent. The pair have been followed closely by the club’s recruitment team for more than a year.
Both players are under-17 internationals for Ecuador and made their debuts in the same match against Costa Rica last August.
Edwin is a left footed right winger, while Holger plays as an attacking midfielder.
Recent academy progression has been seen as a key factor in convincing the twins to choose north London amid interest from a host of teams across Europe. The rise of Myles Lewis-Skelly, Ethan Nwaneri and Max Dowman in the senior set up has strengthened the club’s case that first team opportunities exist for the best young players.
The twins will remain at Independiente del Valle for the next two seasons, with Arsenal set to monitor their development closely before their formal arrival in 2027.