Arsenal have received a significant boost to their academy project, successfully securing the long-term commitment of midfield prodigy Max Dowman.
According to Goal, the 15-year-old has agreed to sign scholarship terms, which includes a clear pathway to a first professional contract when he becomes eligible.
Dowman, who became Arsenal’s second-youngest player to debut in the Premier League earlier this season, has agreed to the two-year scholarship, effectively moving him from schoolboy terms and fending off interest from “many of the world’s leading teams.”
The move is a triumph for the club’s development setup and reflects the youngster’s desire to stay at his boyhood club.
The scholarship agreement secures Dowman until he is old enough to formalize his professional terms. He will be eligible to pre-agree that contract on his 16th birthday on December 31, with the professional deal set to commence when he turns 17.
Manager Mikel Arteta has emphasized the importance of carefully nurturing the young talent, who has already made three first-team appearances.
Speaking previously about managing Dowman’s rapid ascension, the Arsenal boss said:
“We need to change his times, his education, his allocation, where he is with his family. His diet is different, his sleep pattern is different, the training load is different… We need to be cautious and very, very careful.”
Dowman’s commitment underscores Arsenal’s reputation for successfully integrating youth players into their senior squad.