English Premier League
Liverpool and Arsenal set for tribunal over compensation for teenager Vincent Joseph
Liverpool and Arsenal are heading to an arbitration committee after failing to agree the compensation fee for 16-year-old Vincent Joseph.
The dispute follows Joseph’s move from Liverpool to Arsenal, who have secured the teenager’s signature after competition from several leading clubs.
Joseph made appearances for Liverpool Under-18s and left the club last month. Liverpool had offered him a scholarship, which needed to be signed by 1 July, but Joseph rejected the proposal.
His decision came amid interest from a number of clubs, including Manchester United, Chelsea, Bayern Munich and Borussia Dortmund.
Arsenal, the Premier League champions, ultimately won the race to sign the young player. However, the two clubs have since been unable to reach an agreement over the compensation Liverpool should receive for his departure.
With negotiations deadlocked, the matter is now expected to go before an arbitration committee, which will determine the amount due to Liverpool.
The disagreement represents the latest stage in a process that began when Joseph declined Liverpool’s scholarship offer. The club had hoped to retain the player after his involvement with their Under-18 team, but he chose to pursue an opportunity elsewhere.
Arsenal’s interest prevailed despite the presence of several other prominent clubs in the competition for his signature. Manchester United, Chelsea, Bayern Munich and Borussia Dortmund were all reported to have shown interest before Arsenal completed the move.
The compensation dispute means the financial terms of Joseph’s transfer will not be settled through an agreement between the clubs. Instead, the arbitration committee will decide the figure payable to Liverpool.
Joseph is the latest teenage player to leave Liverpool for another club in the Premier League. The last player to make such a move was Isaac Moran.
Liverpool and Arsenal have therefore been unable to resolve the issue directly, leaving the committee to settle the outstanding matter. The hearing will focus on the compensation owed to Liverpool following Joseph’s departure and his subsequent move to Arsenal.
No agreement has been reached between the clubs despite discussions over the fee. The failure to find common ground has led to the escalation towards arbitration, where the compensation value will be determined.
Joseph’s move comes after Liverpool’s offer of a scholarship was rejected and follows his involvement with the club’s Under-18 side. Arsenal then emerged as the successful club from a group that included domestic rivals Manchester United and Chelsea, as well as German Bundesliga clubs Bayern Munich and Borussia Dortmund.
For Liverpool, the central issue is the amount of compensation due for losing the teenager. For Arsenal, the move has been completed, but the financial settlement with Liverpool remains unresolved. The arbitration committee will now decide the final figure.
