Arsenal have confirmed that Max Dowman has signed a pre-contract agreement with the club that will lead to him signing professional terms when he turns 17.
Dowman celebrated his 16th birthday on 31 December – prior to that, he was 15…that’s how it works – and will become a scholar in the summer.
He won’t be able to formally sign a professional deal for another 12 months; however, with clubs around the world showing interest in the academy prospect, Arsenal moved early to agree terms with the player and his representatives.
The teenager has spent much of the past 18 months training with the first team and made his long-awaited competitive senior debut against Leeds in August. He has featured five times in total, though an ankle injury has sidelined him for the last couple of months.
Reflecting on the next step in his career, Dowman told Arsenal.com: “This means everything to me and my family. We all support Arsenal and I really feel like I belong here. I’d like to thank all my coaches, teammates and, most importantly, my family and friends, who have got me to where I am today.
“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, Myles and Ethan, who all really inspire me.
“It’s amazing to have role models so close that have experienced the same thing that I have. I’m now so excited to continue to work hard with my development.”
Should Dowman find the net before the end of the season, he would become Arsenal’s youngest-ever goalscorer, breaking a record held by Cesc Fabregas since 2004.
Earlier this week, Arsenal confirmed that 17-year-old full-back Josiah King and 18-year-old midfielder Ife Ibrahim had signed their first professional contracts. Ibrahim was then handed his senior debut, coming off the bench in the 3-2 win over Kairat Almaty, while winger Brando Bailey-Joseph also made his first-team bow.