Vincent Joseph transfer dispute heads for arbitration after Arsenal switch

Liverpool and Arsenal are heading towards an arbitration tribunal after failing to agree the compensation payable for 16-year-old midfielder Vincent Joseph.

Joseph left Liverpool last month after rejecting the club’s offer of a scholarship, which had needed to be signed by 1 July. The teenager had featured for Liverpool Under-18s before his departure.

The Daily Mail reported that Joseph’s decision came amid interest from several leading clubs, including Manchester United, Chelsea, Bayern Munich and Borussia Dortmund. However, it was Arsenal who won the race to sign him.

Arsenal, the reigning Premier League champions, have since been negotiating with Liverpool over the compensation fee due to the Merseyside club. Those discussions have failed to produce an agreement, leaving the two clubs facing a formal process to determine the amount.

With the dispute at a standstill, the case is expected to go before an arbitration tribunal, which will decide the compensation owed to Liverpool for the development of Joseph.

The disagreement centres on the compensation mechanism that applies when a young player leaves one club to join another. Liverpool had presented Joseph with a scholarship proposal, but he declined it before moving on, despite the interest shown by Manchester United, Chelsea, Bayern Munich and Borussia Dortmund.

Arsenal ultimately secured his signature, but the clubs have been unable to settle the financial consequences of the transfer between themselves. The tribunal will therefore be asked to establish the figure payable to Liverpool.

Joseph’s departure is the latest example of a teenage player leaving Liverpool for another Premier League club. The last such player was Isaac Moran, who also moved away from Liverpool to join a different club in the English top flight.

Neither Liverpool nor Arsenal has reached common ground on the valuation of Joseph, meaning the next stage will be an arbitration hearing rather than a further round of direct negotiations. The process will determine the compensation owed to Liverpool following the teenager’s move to Arsenal.

The case follows the rejection of Liverpool’s scholarship offer and Joseph’s subsequent decision to consider opportunities elsewhere. Although a number of prominent clubs were reportedly interested, Arsenal won the contest for the player and completed the move.

The outstanding compensation issue has now become the central matter between the two clubs. Until a settlement is reached or the tribunal rules, the amount Liverpool will receive for Joseph will remain unresolved.