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Arsenal are set to complete the signing of record-breaking youngster Axel Donczew from Cardiff City, according to Jacob Tanswell and Art de Roché of The Athletic.
The Gunners are close to sealing the deal for the teenager, who wrote his name into the history books when he became the Bluebirds' youngest ever player last season.
His expected arrival comes as part of an anticipated rebuild of the Hale End setup led by Andrea Berta and new Academy Director Pascal De Maesschalck.
Arsenal set to sign Axel Donczew from Cardiff City
🚨 Arsenal are set to complete the signing of Axel Donczew (16) from Cardiff City. ✅🏴 [@J_Tanswell]
— afcstuff (@afcstuff) July 23, 2026
⚠️ Donczew became Cardiff City’s youngest ever player (15y, 234d) after his substitute appearance against Newport County in the EFL Trophy in October 2025. pic.twitter.com/DFU01ouDub
Donczew made two appearances for the Cardiff City senior team during the 2025/26 season with his debut seeing him become his boyhood club's youngest player in their history.
He came off the bench in an EFL Trophy clash with fellow Welsh side Newport County at just 15 years and 234 days old to break the record set by Rob Tankiewicz just 64 minutes earlier at the start of the match.
The midfielder has also appeared for Wales at youth level, featuring at each level between Under-15s and Under-19s level, and he is eligible to switch allegiance to Poland.
His move to Arsenal sees him follow in the footsteps of fellow Cardiff academy graduate Aaron Ramsey, who made the move from the Welsh capital to North London in 2008. He previously held the record of being Cardiff's youngest ever player for 18 years before it was broken by Tankiewicz and subsequently Donczew.
Having finished as a runner-up in the 2007/08 FA Cup, Ramsey went onto win three titles with the Gunners, scoring the winner in two of the finals, against Hull City and Chelsea respectively.
Donczew will be hoping his career in North London can be as successful or even better than Ramsey's proved to be as he joins the club at a transitional period for their academy setup.
With De Maesschalck replacing Per Mertesacker at the helm of Hale End, the Welsh talent is set to join Elijah Upson as new additions to the youth sides. Arsenal had also been targeting Jeremy Monga, who ultimately moved to Manchester City, as did Mishel Nduka following the expiration of his Gunners contract.
It's unclear how much Arteta's side will be splashing on signing Donczew, but he should be a great incoming for their academy as they look to build on what has been a very successful path for youth over the years.
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