Arsenal - Ethan Nwaneri
Image credit: Getty Images
Arsenal prodigy Ethan Nwaneri has named 15-year-old Max Dowman as the most exciting talent currently emerging from the club’s renowned Hale End academy, sparking widespread excitement among Gunners fans eager to witness the next breakout star.
Speaking on The England Pod hosted by Dave Watson, Nwaneri was asked to identify the standout English player in Arsenal’s youth setup. His response was immediate and emphatic: “Max Dowman.” The mention quickly gained traction across social media platforms, with the teenage sensation drawing comparisons to Kaka for his elegance and versatility in midfield.
“Max is unreal,” Nwaneri added, echoing sentiments shared earlier this year by Arsenal and England star Declan Rice, who described Dowman as “the best 15-year-old in the country” during a BBC interview. Nwaneri’s praise carries significant weight, given his own meteoric rise. He became the Premier League’s youngest-ever player at 15 years and 181 days during his debut against Brentford in 2022 and has since established himself in Mikel Arteta’s squad, notching nine goals and two assists this past season, including a Champions League strike against Girona.
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Dowman, born on December 31, 2009, in Chelmsford, Essex, has been setting new records with astonishing speed. At just 13, he debuted for Arsenal’s U18 side in September 2023, becoming the youngest player to appear in an U18 Premier League match. A year later, in September 2024, he made history again by scoring against Atalanta to become the youngest goalscorer in UEFA Youth League history at 14 years, 8 months, and 19 days.
Arsenal - Max Dowman
Max Dowman (Image credit: Getty Images)
In December 2024, Dowman surpassed Nwaneri’s record by becoming Arsenal’s youngest-ever U21 player at 14 years and 336 days, featuring in a 1–1 draw with Brighton. His 2024/25 campaign has been nothing short of remarkable, registering 15 goals and 15 assists in just 15 games for the U18s, including a standout hat-trick in a 5–3 win over Leicester City in April. Often captaining sides two years above his age group, Dowman has earned glowing praise from Arsenal academy coaches, including Adam Birchall and former U18 head coach Jack Wilshere, who remarked, “If you’re good enough, you’re old enough.”
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A regular in England’s youth setup, Dowman has three goals in 13 caps for the U17s and is being closely monitored by the FA’s development teams. Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta has already begun integrating Dowman into the senior setup, including taking him to the club’s mid-season training camp in Dubai in January 2025. Arteta confirmed last month that Dowman is expected to be part of Arsenal’s upcoming pre-season tour of Asia.
“We’ve got a big, big talent there,” Arteta said. “Now it’s about making sure we look after his development in the right way.”
Premier League regulations currently prevent Dowman from making his senior debut until he is registered with at least the U16s, a requirement he will meet next season. Nonetheless, the groundwork is being laid for a potential first-team breakthrough, continuing the legacy of Hale End graduates like Bukayo Saka, Emile Smith Rowe, Myles Lewis-Skelly, and Ethan Nwaneri himself.
Under the watchful eye of Arteta and academy manager Per Mertesacker, Arsenal’s youth development system continues to thrive. With Max Dowman now emerging as the latest jewel in Hale End’s crown, the future looks increasingly bright for the North London club.
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