Mikel Arteta-Lauded Arsenal Starlet, Seen as 'Big Prospect,' Rejects Contract Offer to Depart

Reuell Walters has opted to depart from Arsenal.

Arsenal is on the verge of losing promising defender Reuell Walters after he turned down a contract extension offer.

Walters, who joined Arsenal in November 2020, earned recognition by winning the Academy Scholar of the Year Award for the 2022-23 season. Having amassed 80 appearances across the club's under-18s, under-19s, and under-21s, he has been on the radar of Mikel Arteta's first team.

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Despite featuring in the last two pre-season tours and being part of match-day squads 21 times, the 19-year-old, capable of playing at centre-back and right-back, has opted to decline a new deal, according to The Athletic. Instead, he will depart as a free agent this summer.

While Walters' decision may disappoint Arsenal, they could receive compensation if he starts training with another English club. Walters will be free to negotiate with other clubs from May 18, having attracted interest from various teams across Europe, as well as the Premier League and Championship.

This move reflects the ambition of a young player unwilling to wait for opportunities at a club vying for Premier League title contention. Despite reaching the FA Youth Cup final and frequently being included in Arteta's match-day squads, Walters has yet to make his debut, frustrated by limited chances in a season where Arteta has favored established players.

Although Walters, Ethan Nwaneri, and Lino Sousa were part of the squad for Arsenal's Champions League clash against PSV Eindhoven in December, none made it onto the pitch during the 1-1 draw. While Cedric Soares started at right-back, Walters received praise from Arteta in the pre-match press conference.

“Three big prospects,” he said. “We want to keep developing players from our system. They deserve to be here. We want to start to give them some experience because they have the talent to hopefully be very close to us. We will try to give them the opportunity if we can.”

Arsenal's missed opportunities may have resulted in the departure of a promising young talent. Despite being nurtured at Arsenal, Walters initially honed his skills in Tottenham's academy and was on the verge of joining Manchester United before Arsenal secured his signature.

Notably, Walters isn't just gifted on the football field. His prowess extends to the virtual realm, particularly in Fortnite, where he generated a substantial income of $11,000 in a single night by creating a popular map within the game. With a significant following on YouTube for his Fortnite content, Walters opted to scale back his gaming pursuits to concentrate on his football career.

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