The highest-profile departure sees winger Kyran Thompson set to join Newcastle United, as reported by Scouting Indoors and Fabrizio Romano. Thompson is currently a free agent after his Arsenal schoolboy contract expired at the end of June, having previously been expected to sign scholarship and subsequently professional terms with the club.
Originally part of Arsenal's Hale End academy as a young boy before a spell at West Ham, Thompson returned to Arsenal at Under-15 level and impressed enough during his Under-16 year to feature heavily for the Under-18s, while also gaining opportunities at Under-19 and Under-21 level and training with the first team.
According to the player's father, a key factor behind the move to Newcastle was Thompson's desire to play regularly in his preferred position as a right winger, having often been used as a central striker for Arsenal's Under-18s. The England Under-17 international, who had also been linked with Tottenham, is regarded as a highly promising prospect, making his departure a notable loss for the club.
Elsewhere, Jeorge Bird's Arsenal youth website is reporting goalkeeper Alexei Rojas has signed for Portuguese second division side FC Penafiel after leaving Arsenal as a free agent, having elected not to sign a professional contract. Rojas will look to continue his development in Portugal in search of regular football, having frequently trained with the first-team squad but been used only sporadically at Under-21 level in his final seasons, a situation compounded by injury last campaign.
Winger or attacking midfielder Alex Marciniak has also departed, joining top-flight Polish side KS Cracovia after turning down Arsenal's offer of a professional contract. A Wales Under-18 international, Marciniak signed scholarship terms with Arsenal in 2024 and made 45 appearances for the club's Under-18s, scoring eight goals and providing seven assists, including outings in the UEFA Youth League.
Attention at Arsenal will now turn to developing the players who remain, with an announcement on next season's scholarship intake expected shortly.