Arsenal Scouts Watch Serbian Teenager Vasilije Kostov
Arsenal are in the mix to sign 17 year old attacking midfielder Vasilije Kostov from Red Star Belgrade, as Mikel Arteta continues his mission to find some top young talent for the future.
Arteta’s Vision – Next Generation at Arsenal
Now in his 7th season as Arsenal boss, Mikel Arteta has had a big impact on the club. Not only has he got us winning some trophies but he’s also making sure that the young stars coming out of the famous Hale End academy get a chance to shine.
There’s been a number of youngsters like Myles Lewis-Skelly, Max Dowman & Ethan Nwaneri who’ve made their mark in the seniors, while some of the more recent academy graduates like Folarin Balogun, Mika Biereth & Omari Hutchinson are doing really well elsewhere.
Arsenal have got a bit of an art to finding the right balance between chasing the big prizes right now and building for the long-term. One big part of that is picking up on some of the most promising youngsters out there, worldwide.
We’re looking at the likes of the Ecuadorian twins Holger & Edwin Quintero from Independiente del Valle, who are due to join us in 2027. And, as Fabrizio Romano pointed out, Arsenal are all about having a long-term plan to bring in the best young talent – so it’s no real surprise that we’re interested in someone like Kostov.
Arsenal Scouts Watching Kostov in the Europa League
According to football .london, we sent some scouts along to watch Vasilije Kostov in action when Red Star Belgrade took on Malmo in the Europa League recently.
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Born on the 11th of May 2008, at just 17 he’s already made his senior debut for Red Star Belgrade and even got a few caps for the Serbian national team.
Kostov had a cracking 2025/26 season, scoring and assisting all over the shop. He’s been doing so well that people are even comparing him to Pedri, and some folks have even started calling him the “Balkan Barella” because of his technical skill, how versatile he is in midfield and the all round composure he shows for a 17 year old.
Widespread Interest from Europe’s Elite Clubs
Arsenal aren’t the only ones sniffing around Kostov – you’ve got Bayern Munich and Borussia Dortmund making their moves too.
And then there’s Red Star Belgrade’s General Director, Zvezdan Terzic. He’s confirmed the interest from all across the continent and has even said they’ve had a formal €20 million offer (£17.45 million) already on the table.
Terzic says Kostov has got the potential to be at one of the “big six” in the Premier League – and that’s not just coming from him, either. He’s got a teammate, Timi Max Elsnik, who’s singing his praises – saying he’s got top, top level quality.
Could Kostov Be Arsenal’s Next Big Signing?
A move isn’t going to happen overnight – Kostov is expected to stick with Red Star for at least a bit longer yet. But with all these clubs fighting over him the value is only going to go up – meaning Arsenal will have to make some quick moves if they want him.
And if they do secure his signature it’ll be a big tick in the box for Arteta’s plan to sign the best young talent out there and build a strong squad for years down the line.
The Gunners’ scouting network just keeps on spotting these hidden gems – like Kostov – and as a result they’re looking like a top destination for all the best young players in Europe.
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Arsenal Scouts Watch Serbian Teenager Vasilije Kostov