Quantcast
Home   >   Transfer News   >   Arsenal open talks to sign Mexican starlet Gilberto Mora

Arsenal open talks to sign Mexican starlet Gilberto Mora

By on October 11, 2026

Arsenal have made an approach to Club Tijuana over the possible transfer of highly rated attacking midfielder Gilberto Mora to the Emirates Stadium in January, according to Mexican outlet El Porvenir.

Mora has enjoyed an outstanding meteoric rise in North America since debuting for Club Tijuana in 2024 at just 15 years old. He quickly became Tijuana’s youngest-ever debutant, the third-youngest player to debut in Liga MX, and has gone on to make 61 more appearances for the 2012 Mexican champions, providing 18 goal contributions.

At the international level, Mora has been a regular for Mexico from the age grades to the senior team. He most notably became Mexico’s youngest-ever senior team debutant in June 2025 after featuring in the CONCACAF Gold Cup quarter-final against Saudi Arabia at just 16 years and 257 days.

The 17-year-old was also part of Javier Aguirre’s 26-man World Cup squad, where he set the record as the youngest-ever player to feature in a World Cup knockout round since Pele in 1958.

Mora has begun the ongoing season in terrific form, netting five goals and providing one assist in seven games for Tijuana, with his performances heightening the interest in his signature ahead of 2027.

‘Exceptional’ player

Now, according to El Porvenir, Arsenal have approached Tijuana’s hierarchy to discuss Mora’s potential transfer to the Emirates Stadium in January.

The attacking midfielder still has three years left in his contract at Estadio Caliente, so his club will look to secure a sizeable fee in the case of his departure.

As a result, it’s no surprise the Mexican outlet adds that Tijuana have placed a £21m release clause in his contract amid interest from Arsenal.

However, Arsenal will need to act swiftly to secure Mora’s transfer, as the report adds that Premier League rivals Liverpool, as well as other top European clubs, including Real Madrid, Barcelona, ​​Borussia Dortmund and Benfica, have also expressed interest in the youngster.

Described as ‘exceptional’ by Tijuana’s club president, Jorge Alberto, Mora would be a shrewd addition to the Gunners should they trump their rivals to secure his signature.

Bringing him to the Emirates would also reinforce the club’s determination to recruit some of the most promising young talents, following the arrivals of Evan Mooney, Jaden Dixon, Elijah Upson, Axel Donczew and Vincent Joseph in recent transfer windows.