Who is Will Wright? Salford City sensation set to join Premier League giants Arsenal

The teenager scored over 50 goals across age groups for Salford last season!

Will Wright, a 17-year-old Salford City sensation, is set to join Premier League side Arsenal after Liverpool withdrew from the race.

According to The Sun, Arsenal have reportedly surpassed Liverpool’s bid of £100,000 plus add-ons for attacker Wright by offering £250,000 plus add-ons.

Wright made just two League Two outings at the close of the previous season before making his first-team debut against Manchester City in January. The teenager’s preseason form, in which he has scored four goals for Salford, has made headlines.

Wright’s signing is a prime example of Arsenal’s new youth policy under academy boss Per Mertesacker, who has been given a “dedicated budget” to acquire the best young players, according to The Athletic.

A big step in his playing career

Previously rumoured suitors Liverpool are thought to be out of the running for Wright, who falls squarely into that category and is anticipated to play for Arsenal’s Under-18 and Under-21 teams when he moves to north London.

Wright, who is in his second year of a scholarship at the club, scored more than 50 goals for Salford across all age levels last season. He has also been seen playing for non-league teams Euxton Villa and Fylde. For the young man, moving to the Emirates would be a huge step up.

During Salford’s 8-0 FA Cup loss to Man City on 11 January 2025, the attacker made his senior debut as a late substitution. Since then, he has made three additional appearances for the first squad of the club.

The 6′ 3″ attacker played in League Two games against Bradford and Port Vale after earning his senior debut earlier this year.

It might be a few years before Wright’s name appears in Mikel Arteta’s first team roster, but he is expected to play for Arsenal’s youth teams next season. However, in recent seasons, the Gunners have given other talented young players opportunities such as Saka, Lewis-Skelly and Nwaneri. So if the teenager does well at his new club, he will expect to receive his shot.

Arsenal scouts were keeping an eye on the youngsters’ performances

The teenager scored his fourth goal for the club in a week last Friday in Salford’s friendly against York City before the match was called off due to suspected racial abuse of a Salford player. Scouts from Arsenal had attended the game to watch Wright.

After a brace against FC United of Manchester and an attempt against Ashton United, both of which ended in 2-2 draws, Wright scored his fourth goal in the friendly game last week.

Will Wright has been one of this season's 🔝 performers in the Academy…⚽️ 40+ goals✅ Senior, FA Cup and @EFL debutsMore to come from the 16-year-old…#RaisedInTheEFL pic.twitter.com/9aUoesPiu7

— Salford City FC (@SalfordCityFC) March 21, 2025

Wright’s playing style

For a young player to score 50 goals at all youth levels for Salford last season underscores his goalscoring exploits. Ever since his breakthrough, Wright has developed into a clinical finisher, and given his age, he is way taller than the normal centre-forwards at his age.

3 goals in 2 nights for Will Wright 💫A fantastic start to pre-season 😁 pic.twitter.com/Cr6hLpsd1B

— Salford City FC (@SalfordCityFC) July 9, 2025

He is a complete striker who also aids in build-up and excels in positional play. His positional awareness is impeccable as he uses his understanding of the game to arrive in the right spot when a ball is delivered in the box.

Now that he is joining Arsenal, one of the top clubs in England. There he will further get guidance to grow himself into a more experienced striker and quickly climb the ladder to become a first-team player in the coming years.

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