In July 2025, Marli Salmon was signing his scholarship at Emirates Stadium. Fast-forward five months, and he's become the fourth-youngest player to ever represent Arsenal, after making his debut in the Champions League against Club Brugge.
From signing his deal in the summer to going on our pre-season tour to Asia, Marli came on for Ben White in the final 10 minutes in our 3-0 victory in Belgium, cementing his place in our history.
Marli isn't the first youngster to represent us in the Champions League and we've delved into the record books to see which other Gunners made their Arsenal bow in Europe's top competition.
marli's maiden match
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Marli's introduction came in the 82nd minute with the match already at 3-0 thanks to two goals from Noni Madueke, the first a wonderstrike from 20 yards, as well as a sensational effort from Gabriel Martinelli.
His introduction, at 16 years and 103 days old, makes Marli the youngest Arsenal player to make their first-team debut in a European competition.
Other players to make their Arsenal debuts in European competitions include Paul Vaessen, who played against Lokomotive Leipzig in 1978, Bukayo Saka, who made his first Gunners appearance against Vorskla Poltava in 2018 and Ainsley Maitland-Niles, who turned out for the first time in Arsenal against Galatasaray in 2014.
Youngest players to make their Arsenal debut in European Competitions
Players
Age
Match
Marli Salmon
16 years and 103 days
Club Brugge 0-3 Arsenal (UCL)
Paul Vaessen
16 years 346 days
Lokomotive Leipzig 1-4 Arsenal (UEFA Cup)
Bukayo Saka
17 years 86 days
Vorskla Poltava 0-3 Arsenal (Europa League)
Ainsley Maitland-Niles
17 years 102 days
Galatasaray 1-4 Arsenal (UCL)
Aaron Ramsey
17 years 231 days
FC Twente 0-2 Arsenal (UCL qualifier)
Marli is also the second-youngest player ever to play in the competition for Arsenal, a record also set this season by Max Dowman, who played in our 3-0 win over Slavia Prague at 15 years 308 days. Jack Wilshere is in third after coming on as a sub at the age of 16 years 329 days in our win over Dynamo Kyiv in November 2008, with Serge Gnabry, at 17 years 101 days, our fourth youngest after featuring against Schalke 04 in October 2012.
the kids are alright
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Marli's Champions League bow is the latest feather in the cap of our academy and the work done at Hale End.
The defender's appearance in Bruges slots him in as our fourth youngest appearance maker in our entire history.
What makes that even more impressive is that the three players ahead of him are all still at the club, having all been given their debuts by Mikel Arteta. Ethan Nwaneri holds the record, closely followed by Max Dowman and goalkeeper Jack Porter, who made his debut against Bolton Wanderers in the League Cup.
Youngest players to represent Arsenal
Players
Age
Match
Ethan Nwaneri
15 years 181 days
Brentford 0-3 Arsenal - 18/09/2022
Max Dowman
15 years 235 days
Arsenal 5-0 Leeds United - 23/08/2025
Jack Porter
16 years 72 days
Arsenal 5-1 Bolton Wanderers - 25/09/2024
Marli Salmon
16 years 103 days
Club Brugge 0-3 Arsenal - 10/12/2025
young lions
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Leytonstone-born Marli Salmon has represented England at both under-16 and under-17 level, recently joining Jack Porter in the squad for the U17 World Cup in Qatar.
Marli's debut against Club Brugge means we now hold the top three youngest English players to play in the Champions League, with Dowman and Wilshere completing the line-up.
On top of that, we are the only side to have three English players play in the Champions League who were 16 years old or younger.
Youngest English players to play in the Champions League
Players
Age
Team
Max Dowman
15 years 308 days
Arsenal
Marli Salmon
16 years 103 days
Arsenal
Jack Wilshere
16 years 329 days
Arsenal
Reggie Walsh
17 years 2 days
Chelsea
Rio Ngumoha
17 years 19 days
Liverpool
Dominic Solanke
17 years 37 days
Chelsea
Ainsley Maitland-Niles
17 years 102 days
Arsenal
Jude Bellingham
17 years 113 days
Borussia Dortmund
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