Arsenal prodigy Max Dowman became the youngest player in UEFA Champions League history after coming off the substitutes’ bench to make his debut in the competition on Tuesday.
The history-making moment arrived in Arsenal’s 3-0 win at Slavia Prague, when Dowman replaced Leandro Trossard in the 82nd minute.
– Dowman becomes Arsenal youngest starter
– Arsenal don’t fear rivals poaching prodigy Dowman
At 15 years, 308 days, Dowman breaks the record previously held by Youssoufa Moukoko, who was 16 years and 18 days when he made his first appearance with Borussia Dortmund in December 2020.
He took the record held for 26 years by Céléstine Babayaro, who was 16 years and 86 days when the Nigerian left back started for Anderlecht at Steaua Bucharest in November 1994. Babayaro was sent off in the first half of that game.
Since Moukoko’s debut, Lamine Yamal started for Barcelona at age 16 years and 68 days against Antwerp in September 2023, putting him No. 2 on the list at the time.
Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta was full of praise for his young star.
“The first ball he gets, he takes people on. He starts to dribble and gets a foul. That is personality, that is courage,” Arteta said.
“You cannot teach that — you either have it or you don’t. It doesn’t matter what his passport says, you throw him in this context and he is able to adapt and have a good performance.”
Dowman has already became Arsenal’s youngest-ever starter after being named in the club’s lineup for their Carabao Cup win over Brighton last week.
That record came weeks after he became the second-youngest player — behind Arsenal teammate Ethan Nwaneri — to feature in the Premier League after making his debut against Leeds, also as a second-half substitute in August.
Dowman is a left-footed attacking midfielder who was born in Chelmsford — a city in the county of Essex, which is northeast of London — and joined Arsenal at the age of 5 in May 2015.
He made his debut for Arsenal’s under-18s at age 13 and became the youngest scorer in the UEFA Youth League at age 14, when he was playing for the under-19s.
ESPN reported last month that Dowman had agreed a scholarship deal that will take effect when he turns 16 on Dec. 31.
FIFA rules state players cannot sign a professional contract until they turn 17, meaning Arsenal face an anxious wait to tie down a talent who has attracted interest from across Europe.
However, sources have told ESPN that lifelong Arsenal fan Dowman views his future at the club,
Information from the Associated Press, PA and ESPN’s James Olley was used in this report.