Arsenal have reached a pre-contract agreement with 16-year-old midfielder Max Dowman, who will sign a professional deal upon turning 17 in December. The teenager, who is the second-youngest player ever to feature for the Gunners at senior level behind Ethan Nwaneri, has attracted interest from clubs across Europe but has committed to the north London side.
Dowman will become a scholar at the club this summer before putting pen to paper on a professional contract after his 17th birthday, following a similar path to academy graduates Ife Ibrahim and Josiah King. The youngster expressed his delight at the agreement, citing the clear pathway from academy to first team as a key factor in his decision.
“We all support Arsenal and I really feel like I belong here. I’d like to thank all my coaches, team-mates and, most importantly, my family and friends, who have got me to where I am today,” Dowman said. “I’ve been at the club my whole life, so this really means a lot. There’s such a clear pathway here, players who have come through our academy, like Bukayo [Saka], Myles [Lewis-Skelly] and Ethan, who all really inspire me.”
Dowman has made five first-team appearances under Mikel Arteta this season, despite currently being sidelined with an ankle injury. He notably became the youngest player ever to feature in the Champions League aged 15 years and 308 days when he came off the bench against Slavia Prague.
