Ex-England star Matthew Upson's son Elijah leaves Tottenham for Arsenal

Published Jul 23, 03:33 PM UTC

Arsenal have signed 18-year-old defender Elijah Upson from Tottenham Hotspur, following in the footsteps of his father, former England international Matthew Upson. The move draws comparisons to Sol Campbell's controversial 2001 transfer between the same north London rivals. Elijah Upson, who chose not to sign professional terms with Tottenham, said the environment at Arsenal and the pathway for young players, exemplified by Bukayo Saka and Myles Lewis-Skelly, were key factors. He also expressed eagerness to learn from Arsenal's first-team center-back partnership of William Saliba and Gabriel. The transfer occurs 25 years after Campbell's switch, though it is expected to generate less controversy.