What Callan Hamill’s coach has said about the Scottish wonderkid moving to Arsenal

Callan Hamill is one of the hottest prospects in Scottish football and is set to move to Arsenal this summer after rejecting interest from Celtic and Rangers. The St Johnstone prospect has already trained with the Gunners’ youth ranks and a six-figure fee has been agreed between the Premier League giants and his current club St Johnstone.

The Athletic report that the deal has been done and the Scot will move in the summer, eligible to make the switch to England after his 16th birthday in March. The defender has been capped for Scotland at Under-15, U-16 and U-17 level, scoring his first goal for his country against Cyprus earlier this week.

‘It was a very proud moment for me and my family to score my first international goal for my country,’ Hamill said. But what has been said about the highly-touted teenager by the coach who knows him best?. Head of St Johnstone’s youth academy, Alistair Stevenson, spoke about the impressive youngster last year when Hamill was called up for Scotland Under-15s to meet England.

‘Callan has been with us for four years, he stays in Bannockburn and goes to Graeme High School,’ Stevenson said in February 2024. ‘He has been doing well and has been making progress over the last four years. He has steadily improved and now has international recognition. It is fantastic for him, it is great for the club and huge for the academy.

Speaking of his performances for his country’s Under-15 side, Stevenson added: ‘Callan played against Italy, Portugal and the USA in the three-country tournament. ‘They won two games out of three and Callan captained the side on two occasions where he played the full game.

‘He is a very good leader and very mature for his age. He is a good all-round player and we have him quicker and more intelligent in terms of how the game is played. ‘Callan knows what is required of him. He is a bit of a student of the game in many ways and has a fantastic attitude.

‘He is level-headed. The group get on so well together and they are pleased to see each other do well.’. Stevenson credited the work of a number of youth coaches at St Johnstone for helping to shape the defender’s impressive young career. ‘Different coaches have worked with Callan over the four years, so it is not just one person,’ he said. ‘Sometimes you don’t get the chance of a player like this out of the blue when they are 14 or 15. You need to have them early.

‘We try to make it special for the players. We are a friendly club. A family club. And you enjoy seeing them progress.’. Arrow MORE: Man Utd VAR incident embarrassing and clearly wrong, says former referee. Arrow MORE: Mikel Arteta responds to Ethan Nwaneri injury fears after Arsenal defeat to West Ham.