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Arsenal’s reputation for nurturing young talent is set to continue with their pursuit of Blackburn Rovers’ 16-year-old striker Harvey Higgins, a prodigy dubbed the “next Jamie Vardy.”
According to Football Insider and journalist Alan Nixon (April 6, 2025), the Gunners are poised to make an imminent move for the England U16 international, aiming to bolster their Hale End academy. With a compensation fee of around £1.5 million, Arsenal hope to outpace rivals, including Chelsea, Manchester City, Liverpool, and Serie A clubs.
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Arsenal’s reputation for nurturing young talent is set to continue with their pursuit of Blackburn Rovers striker Harvey Higgins. [Image Credit: Getty Images]Higgins has electrified Blackburn’s youth ranks, scoring on his U21 debut at 15 in a 4-4 draw against Preston North End in December 2023. His blistering pace—clocking 100 meters in 11.01 seconds—and knack for exploiting spaces behind defenders draw Vardy comparisons, per The Sun.
His physical maturity and finishing ability have also earned him a Puma sponsorship, signaling his rising star status. Arsenal’s interest intensified after losing youth striker Chido Obi-Martin to Manchester United, creating a gap in their attacking prospects.
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Mikel Arteta’s vision of blending youth with experience aligns with Higgins’ profile. The Gunners’ academy has produced stars like Bukayo Saka, Ethan Nwaneri, and Myles Lewis-Skelly, offering a clear pathway to first-team football.
However, Blackburn’s strong record of promoting academy players, as seen with Adam Wharton, could tempt Higgins to stay, per Football League World. Rovers’ fan pundit Simon Middlehurst noted, “Ideally, he’d develop at Blackburn, but Arsenal’s history of nurturing talent is hard to ignore.”
Arsenal’s new sporting director, Andrea Berta, is reportedly driving this “big summer” transfer strategy, with Higgins a key target to future-proof the attack (The Mirror, April 6, 2025).
While immediate first-team opportunities may be limited, Higgins’ versatility as a striker or winger makes him a long-term investment. As competition heats up, Arsenal’s swift action could secure another gem for their illustrious academy, ready to shine in the Premier League.
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