By CALUM CROWE

Published: 21:07, 2 February 2026 | Updated: 21:07, 2 February 2026

Tottenham fended off interest from bitter rivals Arsenal to clinch the loan signing of Hearts and Scotland teenager James Wilson.

The 18-year-old forward had emerged as a shock target for Premier League leaders Arsenal over the final few days of the transfer window.

But Arsenal were effectively offering a six-month trial in their academy, dressed up as a loan deal, that would have offered no financial incentive for Hearts.

That left the door open for their rivals Spurs to swoop in on deadline day and thrash out a deal to take Wilson to North London.

The clubs finalised the paperwork on Monday night and Wilson will now join Tottenham’s Under-21s side, with an option to buy for an undisclosed fee in the summer.

The teenage striker has scored eight goals in 45 appearances for Hearts since breaking into the first-team setup a couple of years ago.

Scottish teenager James Wilson has already picked up a cap for the national team

Wilson also made...