Arsenal have signed 16-year-old West Bromwich Albion left-back Lino Da Cruz Sousa, according to a report from football.london. 

Albion have seen a number of their most talented young players pinched in recent years, including notable names such as Louie Barry and Morgan Rogers, and it seems Arsenal are the latest club to raid The Hawthorns.

As per football.london, Sousa has swapped the West Midlands for north London and become the Gunners first signing of the January transfer window.

It is understood that the left-back has already trained with his new teammates and is recognised as a player with the potential to be a future star by some at Arsenal.

Despite not turning 17 until later this month, the England U16 international was a regular for the Baggies U18s last term and even featured for the U23s last February.

However, West Brom could be set to keep hold of another of their up-and-coming players as contract talks with in-demand 17-year-old forward Reyes Cleary reportedly moving positively in recent weeks.

The Verdict

It appears Sousa has become the latest player to leave the Albion academy and given how highly Arsenal are said to rate him, this could be a departure that hurts supporters even more should he establish himself in their side further down the line.

Unfortunately for the Baggies, seeing some of their brightest talents snapped up by bigger clubs has become a regularity in recent years.

Rogers and Barry are two of the most notable to leave the academy while Nathan Ferguson rejected a new contract to join Crystal Palace after his first season in the senior side.

It says a lot about the quality of young players that The Hawthorns outfit are producing but equally speaks to the current standing of the club in English football.