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Associated Press
- August 24, 2025 22:02
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Max Dowman closed his eyes and looked up at the sky. Then he sat down, touched the grass with his hands and walked onto the pitch. Aged just 15 years and 235 days, Dowman, officially a Premier League player, came on as a second-half substitute for Arsenal in their 5-0 win over Leeds on Saturday.
Coming on in the 64th minute, he received perhaps the biggest cheer of the night at the Emirates Stadium. Perhaps this is because Arsenal fans see great potential in Dowman.
So is his coach.
"He's a lad who doesn't hesitate at all and is confident that as a 15-year-old he can come in and show what he knows, something I've never experienced in my life," Mikel Arteta said of Dowman after the Leeds game. He could be England's answer to Spain's youngster and Barcelona superstar Lamine Yamal.
"He brings us pleasure, emotion and something else that makes our work so great."
Dowman's past
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The 16-year-old showed his class, but Arsenal are cautious
Dowman was born in Chelmsford, a town in Essex, south-east London. Dowman joined Arsenal on 5 May 2015. He made his debut for Arsenal's Under-18s as a 13-year-old and became the youngest ever goalscorer in the UEFA Youth League as a 14-year-old, while playing for the Under-19s.
Dowman was 14 years old when he was invited by Arteta to train with the Arsenal senior team in December last year and excelled with the team in preparation, in matches in Asia against Milan and Newcastle.
He's left-footed and plays on the right wing. He likes to get deep. Just ask Leeds when, on one of their dribbles on the right wing, they won a penalty in extra time. It was converted into a goal by Viktor Gyokeres, in a 5-0 win.
Is he the youngest player in the Premier League?
Not the youngest.
Dowman is second in the history of this list, just behind fellow Arsenal player Ethan Nwaneri, who was 15 years and 181 days old when he came on as a substitute against Brentford in September 2022. Nwaneri also plays left-back and is an attacking midfielder.
Only three players have ever played in the Premier League under the age of 16. The other is Jeremy Monga, who played for Leicester at 15 years and 271 days. Monga had to wear a shirt without a sponsor, as Leicester's shirt was sponsored by an online cryptocurrency gaming platform.
Dowman with England
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Dowman makes Premier League history
He played for England's Under-16s last year and was immediately selected for the Under-17s at the European Championship, which was held in Albania in May. He became the tournament's youngest ever goal scorer. He scored against the Czech Republic. Dowman started all three of England's group stage matches, but England failed to progress.
Ready for Champions League appearance
Dowman will turn 16 on December 31st, and only then will he be allowed to play in the Champions League. That would mean he would be ready for the knockout stages in February, should Arteta call him up.
"Players aged 16 must be registered on List B if they have been registered for that club for the previous two years without interruption," UEFA regulations state. Dowman meets this rule.
The youngest player to play in the Champions League is Youssoufa Moukoko, the striker who appeared for Borussia Dortmund in the group stage against Zenit St. Petersburg in December 2020, just 18 days after celebrating his 16th birthday.
Yamali was 16 years and 68 days old when he made his Champions League debut at home to Antwerp in September 2023.
What do they say at Arsenal about him?
It's not just Arteta who has praised Dowman.
"I think everyone sees the potential he has," Arsenal defender Jurrien Timber said after the match against Leeds. "Playing against the big players. That's a pleasure to watch, it's a pleasure for the fans, it's a pleasure to watch."
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Dowman in Premier League history
In March, Arsenal midfielder Declan Rice described it as "incredible", but insisted: "You can be the best 15-year-old in the country, but that doesn't necessarily mean you'll be the same at 18. So you have to be hungry for success, work hard and don't stop."
