Arsenal have agreed a deal to sign centre-half Jaden Dixon from Stoke City for close to £500,000. The 18-year-old joins the squad as a highly-regarded talent with the club having beaten plenty of other interested parties to secure the player’s signature.

Dixon made his debut in the Championship last season, but has yet to feature during the current campaign, making the bench on four recent occasions. A right-sided player, who has also featured at right-back, he has the values of a versatile player Mikel Arteta is known to value.

Dixon - who has five caps for the England U19s side - will join the Arsenal youth ranks with several players ahead of him at senior level in the pecking order. Both William Saliba and Cristhian Mosquera are the current options at right-centre half, while Ben White and Jurrien Timber cover off the right-back roles.

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16-year-old Marli Salmon would likely be Dixon’s main competition. The move comes as Arsenal focus on improving the talent pool of their youth ranks at the older age range.

Per Mertesacker is due to leave the club as head of academy at the end of the season. football.london understands a full process will take place to find a replacement for the German, but there is no rush to make a decision and the club are keen to bring in someone who is the right fit, understands the club’s make-up and principles and can help take this aspect of Arsenal to the next level.

Signings like Dixon are certainly a huge part of that plan. Arsenal were keen on Scottish forward James Wilson; however, the expectation is that the 18-year-old will instead join Tottenham Hotspur. There is still potential for a move for fellow Scotsman Evan Mooney of St Mirren with football.london understanding the deal is advancing.