Manchester United have agreed a £1m deal for 16-year-old Harley Emsden-James from Southampton.
United will also pay add-ons for the defender while Saints have a 20 per cent sell on. Arsenal, Tottenham and Chelsea were among the clubs interested in signing the teenager last summer.
The acquisition of Emsden-James is the latest example of United's efforts to poach highly rated talent from other Premier League sides.
His arrival follows the signings of Chido Obi and Ayden Heaven from Arsenal last season, who were both handed first-team minutes during the campaign.