Arsenal have let several top talents slip through their fingers over the years, and there was some regret over one player who departed under Mikel Arteta.
Whilst George Graham may regret letting Arsenal academy talent Andy Cole depart, given that he went on to become one of the Premier League’s best strikers, in recent years there have not been too many unexpected regrets.
Several academy talents have exited Arsenal under Arteta without being given too much of a chance including USMNT striker Folarin Balogun, but very few have yet to prove that they would currently be starting for the Gunners.
Omari Hutchinson is a player looking to show that Arteta should have given him a chance, and he will be lining up against Arsenal in the Premier League next season.
Former Arsenal youngster Omari Hutchinson set to leave Chelsea permanently
Hutchinson made a shock departure from Arsenal in 2022 as he joined rivals Chelsea, but having barely been given a chance at Stamford Bridge, he headed out on several loan spells.
The 20-year-old spent last season at Ipswich Town, helping them achieve promotion from the Championship as he scored 11 goals in 50 games across all competitions.
Ipswich are now set to sign him permanently, with a £22m deal agreed with Chelsea, and Arsenal will be frustrated that this kind of fee is being paid for a player who was in their academy until recently. However, they are set to benefit.
Arsenal to earn part of fee from Chelsea Omari Hutchinson sale
Fabrizio Romano has now revealed that Arsenal inserted a sell-on clause as part of the deal which took Hutchinson to Chelsea, and that they will benefit from his sale to Ipswich.
“Arsenal will also receive money from Omari Hutchinson’s move to Ispwich Town from Chelsea. Arsenal had sell-on clause included into Omari deal when he joined Chelsea,” he posted on X.
It is unclear how big the sell-on clause is, but even if it is as low as 5%, Arsenal will receive over £1 million from the deal between the clubs for a player who never made a first-team appearance.
Hutchinson will now get back on track after a spell at Chelsea in which he never looked set to establish himself, and given that Arsenal are in the market for a winger, he may wonder whether he could have been given more time in a stable team under Arteta had he stayed at the club.