Arsenal are about to lose Fortnite-playing talented Young Gun Reuell Walters.

The highly-rated 19-year-old defender had been tipped to make his first team debut during 2023-24 after impressive form for the Arsenal Academy.

The London-born England U20 international with a dual German passport had been offered a new and improved deal with the Gunners - but the player and his representatives turned down the deal in a bid to find better prospects of first team football elsewhere.

While Arsenal believe that Walters’ departure is mutual, it is understood sources close to the player have indicated it is the player's decision to depart - with London rivals Chelsea understood to be monitoring the situation.

Clubs on the continent are also interested in landing Walters' services, with the Gooner understanding that preliminary talks have taken place with teams in Germany, Italy and Spain after Saturday, May 18 - the date the player and his representatives were allowed to speak with other clubs. 

Reports also claim Walters - who was also part of the Gunners' thrilling U18 side that reached the 2023 FA Youth Cup final - rejected fresh terms with the club as staying at Arsenal didn't appear to be the "right next step for his development".

Walters' progress

The Gooner has been charting avid gamer Walters' Arsenal career intently, covering a raft of Premier League 2 matches the talented youngster has been involved in over the last couple of seasons. 

However, Fortnite-loving gamer Walters' dreams of a first-team appearance in Mikel Arteta's first team were sadly not being realised.

While the defender made the Gunners European squad for the 1-1 draw at PSV in the Champions League back in December 2023 the talented teenager was not called upon from the substitutes bench - meaning the player and his representatives started to look elsewhere at the long-term prospect of first team football.

However, the decision on where to go is complicated by the fact that due to the defender’s German passport, if he moves to a European side the fee will be set by FIFA at €90,000 (£77,460) per-year he was at the club — meaning the Gunners would receive a maximum of €360,000 (£309,790) for four years at Arsenal.

Yet, if Walters moves to an English club, Arsenal can set the amount of compensation - which could ultimately match or exceed the £2m fee the club received from Aston Villa for Walters' former colleague Lino Sousa, if a number of proposed clauses and add-ons were to be eventually activated as his career progresses. 

Arsenal Academy thrives

Walters is the latest in a long line of talented academy youngsters who have decided their future is elsewhere, with questions being asked of the Gunners youth set-up.

While the Arsenal academy itself is in fine fettle with excellent facilities and a raft of talented coaches at Hale End, the Gooner understands there is to be an internal reassment regarding youngsters' path to the first team - after talented young guns from previous years' such as Cohen Bramall (2019, Colchester) Omari Hutchison (Chelsea, 2022), Miguel Azeez (Atletico Baleares via Wigan), Marcelo Flores (Tigres via Real Oviedo, 2023), Zech Medley (KV Ostende 2021) were all forced to depart in a bid for first team football.

This season's cohort is no different - including Amario Cozier-Duberry, Myles Lewis-Skelly, Nathan Butler-Oyedeji and Charles Sagor Jnr have all been struggling to make the grade - with many taking a long hard look at where their future lies. 

Bradley Ibrahim (who joined Hertha Berlin on a free transfer in February) and the aforementioned Sousa (who joined Aston Villa in a £2m deal also in February) have already departed.  

While the path to the first team is an extremely challenging and somewhat circuitous route at times, with loan spells, form, fitness and a slice of luck also required, Walters is the latest talent to leave Arsenal - with Premier League rivals waiting to pounce.