Arsenal have this afternoon confirmed the capture of young Fulham forward Mika Biereth.

The teenager, who scored 21 goals in 21 league games as Fulham’s under 18s retained their Premier League South title last season, rejected the Whites’ offer of a professional contract and instead opted to join the Gunners.

The eighteen year-old told Arsenal’s official website: “It feels great and I’m really excited to be here. It’s a once in a lifetime opportunity and I couldn’t really turn it down. I think now with the recent track record of youth going into the first team, I thought it was a great project to try and be a part of.”

Biereth joined Fulham in 2018 and made his debut for the under 18s as a fourteen year-old against Reading that February. He signed a two-year scholarship with the club in July 2019 and fired two hat-tricks against Tottenham and Leicester as Steve Wigley’s youngsters successfully defended their league title. He scored a total of 25 goals in 41 appearances at youth level in his Fulham career, creating fifteen assists.

It is understood the two London clubs have yet to reach agreement over compensation for the young striker – and this could be eventually determined by a tribunal.