Arsenal to battle Man City for Nigeria-eligible whizkid shining at Liverpool

​Arsenal and Manchester City are monitoring Nigerian-eligible youth winger who plays for Liverpool Joshua Abe ahead of a possible swoop, Afrik-Foot reports.

​Abe is currently one of the brightest young stars in England. The 15-year-old winger, who is on the books at Liverpool, has grown by leaps and bounds recently.

He has impressed so much that his promotion was fast-tracked to the U18s, where he has already made his impact felt with an impressive return of eight goals and three assists in just 10 appearances.

​His performances have attracted interest from several top English clubs, most notably Manchester City and Arsenal, per The Athletic.

Unfortunately for the Reds, they are in a vulnerable position; due to his age, Abe is not yet tied to a professional contract. Consequently, the Reds face the very real risk of losing him by the end of the football season in June.

Remember the name 👀

Joshua Abe scored a hat-trick for Liverpool's U18 side. He is now averaging a goal contribution every 58 minutes this season 🤯 pic.twitter.com/vonYdYYUrB

— Anfield Watch (@AnfieldWatch) February 15, 2026

​Losing Abe would be a significant blow for Liverpool, as the club has already begun preparing him for senior football. He has trained with the first team on several occasions, with coaching staff hoping he will follow a developmental pathway similar to that of Rio Ngumoha.

​Who is Liverpool’s New Starlet Joshua Abe?

​Abe is an Anglo-Nigerian winger who plays for Liverpool’s youth academy. Although he is only 15 years old, he has been with the club since the age of four, which means he is a Red through and through.

​Born in England to Nigerian parents, Abe is eligible to represent either nation. While he has already represented England at the U15 and U16 levels, his international future remains a topic of interest.

The left-footed winger has already drawn comparisons to Reds legend Mohamed Salah due to his explosive pace, direct dribbling, and clinical finishing.

​Despite his heritage, he has not yet played for Nigeria at any level. Like many players of Nigerian origin born in Europe, he appears to prefer representing his country of birth for now.

However, he remains eligible to switch allegiances in the future, provided he does not make a competitive senior appearance for the Three Lions.