Elijah Upson, the 18-year-old son of former England defender Matthew Upson, has signed for Arsenal after rejecting a professional contract offer from Tottenham. Upson had also attracted interest from other prominent clubs, including Chelsea, Manchester City, Everton, Bayern Munich, Borussia Dortmund, Leverkusen, and Monaco.
He visited Arsenal's training ground earlier this month and, following discussions with his family, committed to a move to the Premier League champions. This move echoes his father's career path, who joined Arsenal at age 18 after developing at Luton Town.
Matthew Upson played 57 times for Arsenal, winning the Premier League in the 2001-02 season, and earned 21 caps for England, notably appearing in the 2010 World Cup. His son, also a center back, is described as quick and strong on the ball, with his mother, former runner Ellie Darby, contributing to his athleticism.
Elijah Upson stated that the quality of defenders at Arsenal and the potential for first-team integration were significant factors in his decision. He specifically cited the center-back partnership of William Saliba and Gabriel as an inspiration and an opportunity to learn from experienced, high-quality players. He also expressed pride in joining Arsenal, noting the positive environment and the prospect of personal and professional development.
Upson previously captained Tottenham's Under-18 team and represented England at that age group. He will wear the No. 57 shirt for Arsenal and hopes for exposure to the first team this season. As Upson is under 24, Arsenal will now negotiate compensation with Tottenham for the transfer.