Arsenal Raids Piero Hincapié's Old Club, Signs talented Twins from Ecuador

Premier League giants Arsenal are all set to sign Ecuadorian twins Edwin and Holger Quintero. The 16-year-olds are currently in London to pen a five-year deal with the Gunners that will take effect from August 2027. The move comes as part of the club's revamped transfer policy of roping in promising talents from around the world. The Quintero brothers will be joining from the Ecuadorian side Independiente Del Valle, reportedly for a sum of £9 million.

Winners of the Ecuadorian Serie A in 2021, El Matagigantes have developed a reputation for nurturing young talent in recent years. Arsenal player Piero Hincapie, who is currently on loan from Bayer Leverkusen, also came through the ranks at the club's youth set-up. Chelsea star Moises Caicedo is another big name who graduated from Independiente's youth side. As far as the new Arsenal signings are concerned, the deal has been in progress for over a year & the Quintero brothers could join the Arsenal academy once they are officially signed. However, by the time they turn 18 in 2027, the players could be promoted to the senior team, provided they showcase the development required to be on that level.

Why Arsenal Can't Sign Them Now?

Following Brexit, the rules governing the signing of players under the age of 18 were revised. Now, Premier League teams won't be able to sign players unless they are 18 years of age, which explains why Edwin Quintero and Holger Quintero can only join Arsenal after their 18th birthday. Moreover, there are restrictions on the number of under-21 players that a club can sign.