The name of Jaden Dixon is unlikely to be a familiar one among West Ham United fans. There may even be some Arsenal supporters who would be left nonplussed by a mention of the England Under-19 international.
Shortly after claims emerged, via club insider ExWhuEmployee, stating that West Ham are in talks with Cardiff City for Dylan Lawlor, it appears that the Hammers are also making a move for another up-and-coming central defender.
According to The Standard’s Sam Tabuteau, West Ham United are ‘considering a loan move’ for Jaden Dixon.
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The 19-year-old has only been at Arsenal for a few months. But, after joining in the winter from Stoke City, Dixon wasted little time catching the eye of Mikel Arteta.
Now, he may be about to embark on the first loan spell – and the first prolonged period of first-team football – of his young career.
West Ham United reportedly want Arsenal teenager Jaden Dixon
He made his senior Arsenal debut off the bench in March’s 2-1 FA Cup victory at Mansfield Town.
“He’s been doing really well,” Arteta said. “He’s been training with us lately, and with the absences that we had in the backline, he was an option. He was ready to perform.”
Dixon earned praise, in that brief cameo, particularly for his confidence in possession.
A regular for former employers Stoke at youth level, Dixon is a centre-half by trade but has featured on both the right and the left of the backline. He also honed his talents in the Potters academy under one Ryan Shawcross; the iconic Stoke centre-back who now coaches the youngsters in Staffordshire.
“I feel as though I have improved following my arrival here, especially as a centre-back. The help of Ryan Shawcross has really benefited me,” one-time Tottenham prospect Dixon said before returning to North London.
“He has been helping me a lot with my positioning, what I need to do in one-v-one defensive situations, and I feel like those aspects of my game have continued to improve.
“Ryan has taught me a lot, especially when it comes to my game off the ball and out of possession. I also feel like I’m naturally more of a player who is comfortable on the ball, but he has really implemented those necessary traits off the ball into my game, which has added good balance.”
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Dixon, who cost Arsenal £3.2 million despite arriving at the Emirates without a senior appearance to his name, describes himself as someone ‘not scared to take a risk’. A defender who likes to ‘express myself in front of everyone’.
West Ham are seemingly prioritising centre-halves with a good passing range, and the ability to break the lines from deep. Dixon seemingly fits the mould, while his eye-catching versatility would give Nuno Espirito Santo useful back-up all across the defensive line.
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