An unofficial debut that changed everything

Max Dowman was born on December 31, 2009, and has been training with Arsenal’s first team since 2024. This week, in a friendly against Newcastle, he came on in the second half, played just over 30 minutes, won a penalty, and left everyone stunned. His performance was so brilliant it even outshone the club’s blockbuster signing, Martín Zubimendi, for whom Arsenal paid €70 million.

Coach Mikel Arteta didn’t hide his excitement: “He’s special. What he did on the pitch isn’t normal for a kid his age.” And no wonder—at just 15 years old, 183 cm tall, and with a magical left foot, Dowman made it easy to forget it was “just a friendly.”

England’s new prodigy

Rio Ferdinand, a legend of English football, also joined the praise: “He’s the best 15-year-old in England—maybe even in the world.” He compared him to elite-level talents like Lamine Yamal, Doué, and Cole Palmer—names that already command respect in top-tier football. And although Dowman hasn’t officially debuted in the Premier League, all signs point to that moment arriving soon.

He’s been making waves at youth level for a while. At 13, he was already playing with the U-18s, and by almost 15, he became the youngest player in club history to feature in the Premier League 2. In that competition, he racked up 15 goals and 5 assists in just 15 matches. Outrageous numbers for someone his age.

Arsenal wants to lock him down

Due to his young age, Max Dowman doesn’t yet have a professional contract, but Arsenal is already working to secure his future before Europe’s giants come knocking. He also holds the record as the youngest goalscorer in Youth League history, Europe’s most prestigious youth tournament.

Arsenal knows they’ve got a rare gem on their hands. And football may just have found its next big phenomenon.