Arsenal Signs Prolific Young Striker Mylo Bernard from Crystal Palace

Arsenal have won the race for one of south London’s most prolific young finishers, completing the signing of Crystal Palace striker Mylo Bernard on a scholarship deal with professional terms already locked in.

The 16-year-old joins as part of the club’s 2026/27 scholarship intake, with Arsenal confirming that a pre-contract agreement is in place for his first professional deal, which will kick in when he turns 17.

A ruthless record at Palace

Bernard arrives with serious numbers behind the hype. Palace’s academy leaned heavily on his goals last season, as he hit more than 40 across all competitions. He didn’t just bully his own age group either. Stepping up to the u18 Premier League, he still found a way to dominate, scoring six times while playing above his age.

That cutting edge has already carried onto the international stage. Bernard is an England youth international and has four goals and two assists from eight appearances for the England u16s, underlining why top clubs have been tracking his progress.

Arsenal’s academy rebuild gathers pace

Bernard is one of a growing wave of new faces in north London this summer, as Arsenal aggressively reshape their academy ranks.

• Daniel McCarron (Dungannon Swifts)
• Elijah Upson (Tottenham Hotspur)
• Phoenix Blayney (Larne FC)
• Igor Tyjon (Blackburn Rovers)
• James Scanlon (Manchester United)
• Axel Donczew (Cardiff City)
• Habeeb Ogunneye (Manchester United)
• Andria Bartishvili (Kolkheti 1913)

have all either completed moves or agreed deals that will formally go through in 2027.

It is a clear statement of intent. Arsenal are stockpiling high-upside talent, particularly in attacking and defensive areas, to keep the pipeline to the first team flowing.

Compensation and the Liverpool twist

Because of Bernard’s age, Arsenal could not simply pick him up on a free despite his contract at Crystal Palace expiring this summer. The Gunners had to reach a compensation agreement with Palace to secure the transfer.

A similar story is unfolding with another targeted teenager. Arsenal are closing in on the signing of Vincent Joseph from Liverpool, whose deal at Anfield also ran out at the end of the season. But again, his age blocks a straightforward free transfer.

This time, negotiations have hit a wall. With no agreement yet on compensation between Arsenal and Liverpool, Joseph’s move is heading for a tribunal.

For now, Bernard is through the door, his future mapped out and his goals already banked on by Arsenal’s academy staff. If he carries that Palace scoring touch across London, the next question won’t be about compensation or tribunals – it will be how quickly he can climb towards Mikel Arteta’s first team.