Arsenal had to make a special case for Max Dowman – his super talent merits it
Recently, Arsenal established a symbolic rite of passage at their London Colney training center. Players moving from the youth team to the first team were able to walk through a special corridor that separates the two areas and were applauded as they went. As they did so, they moved on to the main locker room. Once a player takes this step, a whole new world of possibilities opens up.
But sometimes something happens that throws all conventions, all norms out the window. Max Dowman’s super talent was so evident, so early, that Arsenal had to create a unique path for him. This walk has become pointless, if not pointless, as he still has to change in the youth locker room as a minor, even though he is now recognized as a first-team player.
There are no secrets in the world of youth football, no chance that a Kylian Mbappe, an Erling Haaland or a Lamine Yamal will suddenly appear with the wave of a magic wand. This means that the brightest talents are observed and coveted by all elite clubs from a young age. If you are lucky enough to have a child prodigy in your club, developing them is one thing. Keeping them is another story.
All clubs are fully aware that the regulations surrounding young players’ contracts make them vulnerable to poaching. Any local youngster, if good enough to have options, has some freedom to choose which club to sign professional forms with. If they prefer the new pastures, compensation is made to the club that previously developed them. This is the way the world is.
A young player cannot sign a professional contract before his 17th birthday. The situation around all promising 16-year-olds tends to be tricky. There was a lot of uncertainty about Ethan Nwaneri when he reached his contract age in March 2024, but despite strong overtures from elsewhere, he chose to stay. On the other side of the coin, a few months later, Danish striker Chido Obi-Martin declined a professional contract and flew to Manchester United.
Dowman made his competitive Arsenal debut against Leeds (Justin Setterfield/Getty Images)
Dowman’s prospects were so extraordinary that they required exceptional conditions to leave as little room for outside pressure as possible. Nobody wants to be exposed to some kind of bidding war, with the most ruthless agitators in the youth market ready to make wild promises to lure him away from Arsenal.
They had to act smart, so there was a very carefully thought out plan to show Dowman, who comes from a family of Arsenal supporters, how much he is appreciated. Usually, a prodigious player tends to be part of the youth team until the age of 17. Bukayo Saka then made his debut. Myles Lewis-Skelly too. Emile Smith Rowe was 18 years old. Nwaneri had a surprise debut at 15 with a stoppage-time appearance, but it took him two more seasons to be fully integrated as an established first-team player.
Arsenal had a standout wonderkid long before Dowman’s performances saw him obliterate the usual milestones. Things really started to snowball when he scored in UEFA’s version of a junior Champions League just over a year ago. The age group for the tournament is under-19s and Dowman broke the goal record at 14. Soon after, he was training with the first team. On merit. It was neither a strategy nor a sweetener. It was because his particular level required it.
But it was also necessary.
Arteta accelerated Dowman and took particular care in how his elevation was managed. Dowman was then invited to join the warm weather winter training camp in Dubai. A place on the plane for the pre-season tour at the age of 15 was the next step, and if anyone thought it was some sort of gesture, they soon realized it was a legitimate opportunity as the teenager made first-team appearances and had an impact on the game against elite and mature opposition.
Dowman made an exciting first-team debut this season against Leeds, came on at Anfield, played in the Carabao Cup and been part of the matchday squad in eight of Arsenal’s 12 matches so far.
It helps that he is already physically capable of excelling in adult football and overall Arsenal are careful to work closely with Dowman’s family to provide a protective and caring environment. The support is there to help him in everything from education to protection, nutrition, psychology and adaptation to the modern world, while giving him all the tools to be the best: training, playing football and striving to be the best he can be. This care and guidance, along with this strong partnership with his family, will continue for years to come, at least until Dowman officially becomes an adult. It is crucial not to rush him but also not to hold him back. It’s a difficult balancing act, but they strive to handle it as sensitively as possible.
By putting all the pieces in place to complete a deal for Dowman to sign on scholarship, with the promise of a first professional contract at the age of 17, Arsenal have done all they can to secure a remarkable talent. By showing how much they want to protect his interests, they are also protecting their own.