Arsenal will be paying a major fee for Luton Town whizkid Tarum Dawkins.

The 16-year-old winger is the latest young player to graduate from the Luton youth programme and sign for a Premier League club, after Chelsea signed three prospects from the club in January.

Head of Youth Gregg Broughton told lutontown.co.uk: "This deal has been a lot more drawn out than others completed by the club in the last two years, and this reflects the level of interest show in Tarum.

"Immediately after our loss in the play-offs last season we were told that Tarum felt his future lay away from Kenilworth Road, and now after nine months of negotiations, we are delighted that Tarum has found a club that he feels can help him fulfil his dream of playing at the highest level.

"He is very quick both with and without the football, can play off both feet and therefore he will fit in very well with Arsenal's style of play. Playing on either wing he is capable of beating full backs on both the inside and outside making him very difficult to play against.

"Tarum initially started in our Performance Centre at Crawley Green and, after impressing in this environment he was promoted to the Centre of Excellence as an Under-13. Last season he regularly played up a year in the Under-16s where he was regularly monitored by the England scouts and most of the Premier League clubs.

"Despite the club's current non-league status, we continue to produce players with Premier League pedigree. Whilst we have now sold a number of elite players, it must be recognised that these youngsters have joined some of the biggest clubs in Europe.

"We still retain a large number of excellent young footballers across all of the age groups, as is demonstrated by the six recent first team debuts. Luton Town is still recognised as one of the foremost breeding grounds for identifying and developing Premier League players in the country."