Arsenal Youth report that Alex Kovacevic is about to depart Arsenal this summer time, on the expiry of his scholarship contract.
The 17-year-old got here on for an obvious farewell look within the remaining 5 minutes of Arsenal’s final u18 sport of the season on Friday, changing Alexei Rojas instead.
Kovacevic had been out injured for the remainder of 2023, solely returning to health in time for the final day of the u18 marketing campaign.
However even earlier than that, the goalkeeper wasn’t assured begins. He’d made three u18 Premier League begins within the first 4 months of the season, both sitting on the bench or lacking out on the squad within the the rest of the video games.
Arsenal have loads of choices in purpose within the youth groups for the time being, and with Kovacevic’s harm struggles, it turned tough for him to make a case to be a kind of retained by the membership.
Noah Cooper has usually been the person referred to as upon for the u18s for the reason that flip of the yr, beginning each sport of the FA Youth Cup run to the ultimate and many of the league video games as nicely.
Rojas could nicely have performed extra if not for his call-up to the Colombia u20s in January, with the 17-year-old spending a month along with his nationwide facet on the u20 South American Championship – successful bronze.
Then there’s Brian Okonkwo, the youthful brother of Arsenal loanee Arthur, who has been in and across the u18 squad as nicely and performed within the win over Aston Villa final week.
All three goalkeepers are youthful than Kovacevic, who turns 18 subsequent week.
Within the older age teams, Arsenal have Karl Hein, Hubert Graczyk, James Hillson, Arthur Okonkwo, Ovie Ejeheri, and Tom Smith, in addition to the extra senior first-team goalkeepers Aaron Ramsdale, Matt Turner, and Runar Alex Runarsson.
It’s probably the most stacked areas of the squad, and it’s inevitable that Kovacevic gained’t be the one one to maneuver on this summer time.
