Max Dowman has agreed to sign a scholarship deal with Arsenal, which also includes a professional contract to be signed when he turns 17 in two years' time
Max Dowman
Max Dowman has agreed to stay with Arsenal(Image: Getty Images)
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Max Dowman has penned scholarship terms with Arsenal, despite suggestions he could have secured other "lucrative deals" from rival clubs.
The 15-year-old burst onto the scene with the Gunners' senior squad through some stunning and composed performances during pre-season. He even managed to provide an assist on his Premier League debut when the north London outfit thrashed Leeds 5-0.
Arsenal have moved swiftly to secure his signature on a scholarship agreement, which also encompasses a professional contract to be finalised when he reaches 17.
It's also believed by football.london that Mikel Arteta played a crucial role in persuading the Chelmsford-born midfielder to pledge his future to the Premier League pacesetters. The Arsenal manager views him as a talent who will become an essential component of their squad for years ahead.
According to The Athletic, he could have potentially commanded higher wages at other destinations. However, he opted to stay put, shortly after netting a double from the penalty spot in the U19s' recent 4-3 loss to Atletico Madrid in the UEFA Youth League.
Dowman's composure shone through during the frantic encounter against the La Liga giants' youth team. Arsenal are also deliberately controlling the teenager's game time with the first team.
He hasn't appeared in a Premier League fixture since making a brief one-minute substitute appearance in the 1-0 away loss to Liverpool. The plan is for Dowman to ultimately secure a central midfield berth for Arsenal.
SINGAPORE, SINGAPORE - JULY 22: Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta talks to Max Dowman during a training session at Singapore National Stadium on July 22, 2025 in Singapore. (Photo by Stuart MacFarlane/Arsenal FC via Getty Images)
Mikel Arteta was key in securing Max Dowman(Image: Stuart MacFarlane, Arsenal FC via Getty Images)
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When Arteta has introduced him from the substitutes' bench, it has been in a right-sided role, allowing him to drift infield onto his preferred left foot.
Arteta is clearly enthused by Dowman's undeniable ability, but is also making certain he doesn't rush the youngster's development. The Spanish boss, when questioned about the difficulties of nurturing such a promising talent, explained: "Well, learning from him, probably. First of all, preparing and having a very good understanding of his new situation and all the things that are different in his life.
"So we need to change his times, we need to change his education, probably his allocation and where he is with his family. His diet is different, his sleep patterns become different, the training load is different, the amount of information, pressure, exposure is different.
"So we have to manage a lot of factors. Into that lot of factors you add a lot of minutes with very different teams as well. We need to be cautious and very, very careful.
"And that's what we are trying to do in the best possible way, to find that balance, to keep Max as connected as possible with the first team. He's undoubtedly a player that can help the first team.
"But that's why we need the right mixture of minutes, like he did the other day with the [Under-21s] and with England, to have that exposure when he needs to play with us, he's ready to do that."
With four goals in as many appearances for the Arsenal youth teams, he's proven his worth to the development sides. The question is, how long will he stay in the youth divisions?
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