St Johnstone defender Callan Hamill turns down Celtic and Rangers with Arsenal move expected next summer

St Johnstone defender Callan Hamill has turned down an opportunity to join Celtic and Rangers this summer, with a move to Arsenal next summer now expected, according to The Athletic.

The 15-year-old Scotland youth international had been on the radar of the Hoops and Light Blues for a while, but his club have managed to convince him, and he has agreed to stay with the Perth club for a further year.

However, Hamill is eligible to move to a club outside Scotland when he turns 16 next year, and he is set to join Arsenal at the end of the new season.

Having already trained with Arsenal’s under-18 group twice in England and impressed the coaching staff, including under-18 head coach Jack Wilshere, he will continue to make approved visits to Arsenal’s academy over the coming months before making an official transfer.

Hamill plays at right-back, left-back, centre-back and in midfield, and is also on the radar of several other big Premier League clubs, all keen to snap him up when he turns 16.

While both Rangers and Celtic have missed out on him in a huge boost to Arsenal, the Gunners are not guaranteed anything as other English top-flight suitors can still beat them to his services if they make concrete moves.

The North Londoners are favourites right now and they will continue to monitor his situation.

St Johnstone would have received around €38,000 had the Scottish sensation moved within Scotland this summer and joined either Celtic or Rangers.

However, the Saints will be entitled to €130,000 in cross-border compensation if he moves to Arsenal or another Premier League club next summer as expected.

The Gunners have concentrated on the domestic market after regulations imposed by Brexit prevented English clubs from signing under-18 players from overseas, and they will continue to scour the United Kingdom for hidden gems like Hamill.