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Posted on May 28, 2026 9:00 pm | Updated on May 28, 2026 5:56 pm Arsenal teen Max Dowman breaks an 18-year Premier League starting record.
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Arsenal’s 16-year-old winger Max Dowman has broken another Premier League record, becoming the youngest player ever to start a Premier League match on the final day of the 2025-26 season.
Max Dowman starts, history follows
As per BBC, Dowman started for the newly crowned champions against Crystal Palace on Sunday. At just 16 years and 144 days old, he became the youngest player ever in Premier League history to start a match from the opening whistle. This latest feat sees Dowman beat the previous record held by Jose Baxter. Baxter was 16 years and 198 days old when he made his first start for Everton back in 2008.
The occasion was made even more special by the setting. Arsenal received a guard of honour as the newly crowned champions walked out at Selhurst Park. Arteta trusted Dowman from the first whistle of the game. The selection spoke as much to Dowman’s mentality as his ability.
Youngest players to start a Premier League match, as per ESPN:
Rank Player Club Age at First Start Opponent Year
1 Max Dowman Arsenal 16 years, 144 days Crystal Palace 2026
2 Jose Baxter Everton 16 years, 198 days West Bromwich Albion 2008
3 Reece Oxford West Ham United 16 years, 236 days Arsenal 2015
4 Wayne Rooney Everton 16 years, 297 days Tottenham Hotspur 2002
5 Neil Finn West Ham United 17 years, 3 days Manchester City 1996
A debut season no one saw coming
As per ESPN, in August 2025, Dowman became the second youngest player to appear in the Premier League. He went further in November, becoming the youngest player in Champions League history at just 15 years and 308 days old.
The goals came next. In March, he came off the bench against Everton with the game stuck at 0-0. He first set up Viktor Gyokeres to score in the 89th minute with a sharp cross. Then he scored himself in the 97th minute. He ran half the length of the pitch and finished calmly into an empty net. It made him the youngest scorer in Premier League history, breaking the record of former Everton player James Vaughan, who scored against Crystal Palace in 2005.
Dowman is still in school. Under Premier League rules for players under 18, he must change into his Arsenal kit in a separate locker room from his senior teammates.
World Cup without Max Dowman, for now
Dowman will not be part of England’s plans for the FIFA World Cup just yet. Thomas Tuchel has named Ethan Nwaneri as the fourth young player in England’s senior training camp in Miami. His selection means Dowman misses out, despite his stunning rise this season.
The England manager had already spoken highly of the teenager. As per Goal, Tuchel praised Dowman, calling him an “outstanding talent for his age” and acknowledging that a World Cup call-up remained a genuine possibility given the teenager’s fearlessness and form.
For now, he can look back on a season that most pros never get close to matching. A Premier League’s title, three all-time records and a first senior start.
Author’s Opinion
Arteta deserves real credit here. For years, top clubs eased young players in slowly and protected them carefully. Arteta put Dowman straight into Premier League and Champions League football and backed him completely. Dowman has not just handled that pressure. He has flourished under it. That is the real story of this season.
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Deepanjali Bhardwaj
Deepanjali Bhardwaj is a Sports Writer at Six Sports, covering both football and cricket with a focus on match developments, player performances, and key talking points across the two sports. Her work combines timely reporting with clear analysis, helping readers stay informed about major matches, tournaments, and emerging storylines in the football and cricket landscape. Through her coverage at Six Sports, Deepanjali contributes match reports, analytical pieces, and feature stories that highlight important moments, team strategies, and standout player performances across domestic and international competitions.
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