Arsenal have announced the departures of two of their highly-rated academy stars this summer following a contractual impasse
Image credit: Getty ImagesArsenal have confirmed the departure of two more players as part of a significant summer overhaul. The club, which came agonisingly close to clinching the Premier League title last season, ultimately finished as runners-up to Manchester City for the second consecutive year.
Mikel Arteta’s side ended the 2023/24 campaign two points behind City, failing to secure any silverware.
Determined to avoid a third consecutive near-miss, Arsenal have already begun reshaping its squad to bolster their chances in the upcoming season.
Last month, the club revealed that 22 players from the men’s, women’s, and academy teams would leave at the end of June when their contracts expired. This list included first-team players Cedric Soares and Mohamed Elneny, along with several promising youth players.
Among those who were in negotiations for new deals were Amario Cozier-Duberry, Karl Hein, and Reuell Walters.
Arsenal academy stars Reuell Walters and Amario Cozier-Duberry (Image credit: Getty Images)
While goalkeeper Karl Hein recently signed a new contract with the Emirates, Arsenal has now confirmed that Cozier-Duberry and Walters will leave the club after failing to agree on new terms.
Last season, Reuell Walters made 23 appearances across all competitions for Arsenal’s academy and debuted for England U20s. He was on the bench for eight Premier League matches and was an unused substitute in Arsenal’s Champions League group stage match against PSV Eindhoven.
Amario Cozier-Duberry made 24 appearances for Arsenal’s academy, scoring 13 goals and providing five assists. He also featured on the bench for the senior team’s 1-0 away win against Brentford in the Carabao Cup and the 2-0 Champions League group stage home win against Sevilla.
In a statement on the club’s website, Arsenal said, “We wish Reuell and Amario the best in their future careers.”
