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Chelsea youngster Marcell Washington continued his trial with Arsenal on Saturday, featuring for the Gunners’ U18 side and providing an assist in a North London derby against Tottenham Hotspur.
The 17-year-old left-back, who has been on trial at Arsenal for over a month, has already played for the club’s U21 side. Reports suggest that Washington is technically on loan from Chelsea while Arsenal assess him as a potential addition to their academy setup.
Washington made his first appearance for Arsenal’s youth teams on February 7, featuring in a Premier League 2 fixture against West Ham United. He followed that up with another U21 appearance against Crystal Palace before stepping down to the U18s for Saturday’s match against Spurs.
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Despite Arsenal falling to a 6-4 defeat, Washington played a key role in the opening goal, setting up Andre Harriman-Annous with a well-placed low cross. He played over an hour before being substituted for Cam’ron Ismail with the score at 4-3.
Marcell Washington in Arsenal first-team training with Jurrien Timber (Image credit: Getty Images)Beyond his youth-level appearances, Washington has also been involved in first-team training at Arsenal, a sign of the club’s keen interest in his development.
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Washington was initially discovered by Chelsea’s recruitment team while playing grassroots football and has been part of the club’s academy setup. He was a member of the Blues’ U17 squad that won the Premier League Cup last season, defeating Wolverhampton Wanderers 3-1 in the final at Molineux. Although he was originally signed as a left winger, he has since transitioned into a left-back or wing-back role, depending on the tactical setup.
His inclusion in Chelsea’s Premier League squad as part of their U21 list indicates that he remains contracted to the West London club. As a result, Arsenal would need to negotiate a transfer fee should they wish to secure his services permanently.
Arsenal’s pursuit of a new academy left-back for the academy has seen multiple trialists come through in recent months, including Wolverhampton Wanderers’ Lennon Patterson, who eventually signed with Sheffield United. The Gunners are eager to strengthen their youth ranks, and Washington’s extended trial suggests he is a strong contender for a permanent move.
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