Arsenal plan to integrate highly-rated youngster Max Dowman into their first team plans during pre-season with the vision of him making the step up next season.
The 15-year-old is highly-rated at the Emirates Stadium, and was included in the squad that travelled to Dubai for a mid-season training camp just last month.
He has been a regular in first team training throughout the current campaign.
Premier League restrictions mean that the midfielder will be unable to make his league debut this season, due to only turning 15 in December, and having been registered for the U15s this season.
However, he could be given a chance to show what he can do on the first-team stage next season, with the player being a year older and registered as an Under 16.
He will hope to follow the examples of both Ethan Nwaneri and Myles Lewis-Skelly who have made the step up to the first team this season. Both have now established themselves as regulars in the starting XI, despite still being teenagers themselves.
Due to his age, Dowman is unable to put pen-to-paper on a professional contract. He also as to wait until his 16th birthday to be able to sign a scholarship.
Journalist David Ornstein has now outlined the plans that Arsenal and Mikel Arteta have in place for the young player.
“I guess it's down to Arsenal to do enough to convince him to sign and obviously we might not know if they've succeeded in that until late 2025/early 2026,” he said in a recent Q&A for the Athletic . “Given he has come through there and is an Arsenal fan, they appear to be in a strong position.
“But considering most big clubs would love to sign him, Arsenal will need to prove their pathway and plans are right for him. He, in turn, must continue to excel as well.
"There's been no suggestion that he'll get special dispensation to play for the first team this campaign, so unless that changes in these final months the focus will be on continuing to integrate into the senior set-up in pre-season and shining in 2025-26.
“The fact Arsenal took him Dubai recently indicates how highly Mikel Arteta thinks of Dowman so let's see how the next weeks go (he has big games for England this week and next) and also show respect to the development of a precocious young talent for club and country.”
Dowman is currently away on international duty as he represents England an U17 level over the international break.
He was named in the starting XI for Wednesday’s 2-0 win over Israel and will hope to get more time when the side take on Slovenia at St George’s Park on Saturday afternoon.