Arsenal sign Ecuadorian twins Edwin and Holger Quintero from Piero Hincapie's former club Independiente del Valle
Published 04/12/2025 at 18:01 GMT
Arsenal have announced a deal to sign Ecuador youth internationals Edwin and Holger Quintero, who will join the club in August 2027 when they turn 18. The 16-year-old twins currently represent Ecuadorian Serie A side Independiente del Valle, the same club which produced The Gunners' first-team defender Piero Hincapie and Chelsea midfielder Moises Caicedo, as well as Kendry Paez.
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Arsenal have agreed a deal to sign 16-year-old twins Edwin and Holger Quintero.
The highly-rated Ecuadorian siblings will officially sign and join the Premier League club when they turn 18 in August 2027.
Both are touted as special talents, with Edwin described as a speedy left-footed right-winger who has been compared to a young Neymar by local media outlets, while Holger is viewed as a skilful attacking midfielder.
They will join from Independiente del Valle, the same club where current Arsenal first-team defender Piero Hincapie began his career.
The Quito-based club have also helped launch the careers of Chelsea signings Kendry Paez and Moises Caicedo.
It continues Arsenal's youth-orientated recruitment drive, emulating Chelsea's successful approach to signing several highly-rated young players from across the globe.
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The club said in their announcement: "Edwin is left-footed, quick and a skilful dribbler. He operates as a right-winger, likes to take on opponents and has a catalogue of skills.
"Holger is a technically gifted, right-footed, attacking midfielder who links play with his progressive vision and also possesses the ability to beat opponents with quick feet.
"We will be collaborating closely with Independiente del Valle on the development and well-being of both Edwin and Holger until they arrive at Arsenal.
"Everyone at Arsenal is excited to welcome the Quintero twins to the club in the near future."
Both have been capped at youth level for Ecuador. They will likely join the club's academy when they arrive in 2027, but could be fast-tracked to the senior squad if they develop enough between now and then.
They follow the signing of goalkeeper Tommy Setford from Ajax and that of 16-year-old Irish forward Victor Ozhianvuna from Shamrock Rovers as the club increase their long-term focus on youth.
The club have already witnessed the swift progress of several of their academy talents, with Myles Lewis-Skelly, Ethan Nwaneri and, most recently, Max Dowman all making strides in the senior squad.
Dowman, who turns 16 in December, signed a scholarship deal with the club in October and has already debuted in both the Premier League and Champions League this campaign.
His substitute appearance against Slavia Prague last month saw him become the youngest player ever to appear in the UEFA Champions League.
The transfer for the twins is subject to the completion of regulatory processes.
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What are the rules on clubs signing youth players?
After Brexit, Premier League and EFL clubs can only officially sign foreign players after they turn 18.
Clubs can no longer sign players freely from the EU post-Brexit, and players from EU countries who want to play in the Premier League or EFL will be required to gain a Governing Body Endorsement (GBE), like all other overseas players without the right to work in the UK.
The GBE operates on a points-based system, where points are scored for senior and talented young players based on the following factors:
- Senior and youth international appearances
- Quality of the selling club, based on the league they are in, league position and progression in continental competition
- Club appearances, based on domestic league and continental competition minutes
Senior and youth international appearances
• Quality of the selling club, based on the league they are in, league position and progression in continental competition
• Club appearances, based on domestic league and continental competition minutes
• Quality of the selling club, based on the league they are in, league position and progression in continental competition
• Club appearances, based on domestic league and continental competition minutes
In the Premier League, the number of overseas Under-21 players a club can sign is limited to three in the January transfer window and six per season.
FIFA's rules after the UK's exit from the EU also means that clubs cannot sign overseas players until they are 18, which is why Arsenal's new signings have to wait until their 18th birthday to sign.
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