Arsenal youth goalkeeper Jack Talbot has put pen to paper on a professional contract, the club have now confirmed.
Arsenal youngster Jack Talbot has signed a professional contract with the club, extending his stay in north London.
The goalkeeper joined Arsenal at eight years old in 2017, and his new deal is set to take him to a full decade with the club and beyond.
In that time, Talbot has worked his way up to the u18s, making 14 appearances for the Gunners in the u18 Premier League. He’s also featured on the bench for the u19s in the UEFA Youth League, and for the u21s in the Premier League 2, but he’s yet to debut in either competition.
“It’s a very special day for me and family,” Talbot said of the new deal. “I’ve been at the club for a long time, so to be here now signing my professional contract is obviously a very proud moment for me and my family.
“Definitely a lot of ups and downs, a lot of learning over the 10, 11 years that I’ve been here, but the main message is just work hard, keep believing in yourself and eventually you’ll get to where you want to be.”
Talbot hasn’t had the easiest start to the season, following up an opening-day clean sheet with a red card in his third appearance back in August, and suffering an injury upon his return from suspension against Tottenham Hotspur last month.
The timing of that injury was particularly unfortunate, as substitute goalkeeper Maximiliano Lo Presti also went on to get injured in the same game, forcing midfielder Emerson Nwaneri to play in goal.
But Arsenal ended up taking all three points anyway, with Mylo Bernard netting a 97th-minute winner.
Given those setbacks, Talbot will be pleased to go into the November international break on the positive note of a new contract.
At 18, he’s had to wait a while for a pro deal, having first become eligible for one last September. Now that it’s confirmed, he can focus on his football again.
- Arsenal youngster signs new contractArsenal youth goalkeeper Jack Talbot has put pen to paper on a professional contract, the club have now confirmed.
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