Arsenal have announced the signing of Daniel McCarron, with the young defender agreeing to join the club from Dungannon Swifts as part of the 2026/27 scholar intake.
The 16-year -old has also signed a pre-contract agreement that will see him sign professional terms in north London.
McCarron has already been involved with the Dungannon Swifts first team squad in the NIFL Premiership this season and arrives as a versatile centre-back capable of playing on either side of defence.
A Northern Ireland youth international, McCarron will link up with the rest of Arsenal’s new scholars in July ahead of next season, following a successful trial period with the club.
That spell included featuring for the Arsenal under 17s at the Flamengo Adidas Cup at the end of 2024, when he was still 15.
The tournament proved a successful one for Arsenal, who went on to lift the trophy. They opened with a 3-1 win over Colo Colo, with Louis Zecevic-John scoring twice and Brando Bailey-Joseph adding the third, before a 3-2 victory against Del Valle through goals from Angelinou, Alex Marciniak and Bailey-Joseph.
A goalless draw with Midtjylland and a 3-1 defeat to Sao Paolo, with Marley Frohock scoring Arsenal’s only goal across those two matches, followed in the group stage, but two wins and a draw were enough to progress. Zecevic-John then scored his third and fourth goals of the competition in a semi-final win over GNK Dinamo, setting up a final against hosts Flamengo.
Arsenal secured the trophy with a 3-1 victory, as Frohock, Bailey-Joseph and Maalik Hashi all found the net. Bailey-Joseph was named man of the match in the final and his three goals across the tournament earned him a place in the Team of the Tournament alongside Teshaun Murisa.
McCarron’s arrival continues Arsenal’s focus on recruiting young talent with senior experience, with Dungannon Swifts, a semi-professional club based in County Tyrone, competing in the top tier of Northern Irish football, the NIFL Premiership.