Celtic midfielder Daniel Kelly has opted to stay at Parkhead, despite strong interest from Arsenal, according to Football.Scotland.
The website reveals that the Gunners did “make an approach” for the teenager after sending scouts to see the player in action.
Kelly has not signed on to professional terms so the English Premier League side would have only had to pay development costs to bring him south of the border.
They were said to be keen on snapping up the 16-year-old for their famed Hale End academy, but Kelly has seemingly rejected their overtures.
Football.Scotland claim that there were also “several” other big clubs in England pursuing the playmaker but it is believed he will now sign a professional contract with Celtic very soon.
Since Brexit, EPL sides have become more attentive to recruiting homegrown talent as they can no longer sign players outside of the UK who are under the age of 18. Kelly is unlikely to be the last academy player to be courted but, hopefully, his decision will provide a precedent for others in the future.
