Max Dowman
English footballer (born 2009)
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Max Dowman (born 31 December 2009) is an English footballer who plays as an attacking midfielder or a winger for Premier League club Arsenal.
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Dowman with Arsenal in 2025 | |||
| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Date of birth | 31 December 2009 | ||
| Place of birth | Chelmsford, England | ||
| Height | 6 ft 0 in (1.83 m)[1] | ||
| Position(s) | |||
| Team information | |||
Current team | Arsenal | ||
| Number | 56 | ||
| Youth career | |||
| Billericay Town | |||
| 2015– | Arsenal | ||
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
| 2025– | Arsenal | 3 | (1) |
| International career‡ | |||
| 2024 | England U16 | 5 | (0) |
| 2024– | England U17 | 16 | (5) |
| 2025– | England U19 | 8 | (1) |
|
* Club domestic league appearances and goals as of 19:30, 14 March 2026 (UTC) ‡ National team caps and goals as of 01:29, 19 November 2025 (UTC) | |||
Born in Chelmsford, Dowman began his youth career at local club Billericay Town before a move to Arsenal's Academy at the age of eight. On 14 March 2026, six months after making his competitive debut for Arsenal, he became the youngest goalscorer in Premier League history at 16 years and 73 days old through a goal against Everton.
Dowman has represented England at the youth level since 2024, becoming the youngest-ever goalscorer for the U19s on 15 November 2025.
Early life
Dowman was born on 31 December 2009 in Chelmsford, Essex.[2] He grew up in a family of Arsenal supporters.[3]
Club career
Dowman joined the youth academy of Arsenal in 2015,[4] following time in the youth set-up at Billericay Town.[5] He started playing with their Arsenal U18s in September 2023 at the age of 13.[6][7] On 19 September 2024, he scored in the Arsenal U19's UEFA Youth League match against Atalanta at the age of 14 years, eight months, and 19 days. He therefore became the youngest goal-scorer in the competition's history.[8][9][10] In December 2024, after becoming the youngest ever Premier League 2 player at 14 years old,[11] he began training with the first team,[12] with the intention to become part of the first-team squad during the 2025–26 season.[citation needed]
On 23 July 2025, he made his first-team debut in a pre-season friendly against AC Milan aged 15 years old in Singapore.[13] On 23 August, he made his Premier League debut, coming on as a substitute for Arsenal in the 64th minute of their match against Leeds United, becoming the second youngest player in the league's history at 15 years and 235 days, behind only his teammate, Ethan Nwaneri.[14] He won a penalty for his team in the third minute of stoppage time, helping Arsenal score their fifth goal in a 5–0 victory over Leeds United.[15] Owing to his age, he is obliged to be chaperoned whilst with the team and is not allowed to change in the main dressing room under FA safeguarding regulations.[16]
On 29 October 2025, Dowman became Arsenal's youngest ever starter when he was named in the starting XI for the fourth round of the EFL Cup 2025–26 against Brighton at the Emirates Stadium, aged 15 years and 302 days, breaking the previous club record set by goalkeeper Jack Porter (16 years and 72 days).[17][18] He played approximately 71 minutes, being substituted in the 71st minute for Bukayo Saka, as Arsenal secured a 2–0 victory to advance to the quarter‑finals.[19] During the match, Dowman stood out for his dribbling, courage and composure, drawing praise from manager Mikel Arteta who noted that "For him, everything is natural, for him everything is OK. It is the way he plays. That's the secret, that he doesn't make a big fuss of it. He just does what he does best which is to play football with a lot of courage and determination."[20]
On 4 November 2025, he appeared as a 72nd-minute substitute during Arsenal's 3–0 away victory against Slavia Prague in the league phase of the 2025–26 UEFA Champions League, becoming the youngest player to appear in the competition at 15 years and 308 days old, surpassing the previous record set by Youssoufa Moukoko who was 16 years and 18 days old when he made his UCL debut.[21][22]
On 30 January 2026, Arsenal announced that Dowman had signed a pre-contract agreement with the club that would lead to him signing professional terms when he turns 17.[23]
On 14 March 2026, Dowman came on as a substitute for Martín Zubimendi and scored in the 97th minute during Arsenal's 2–0 home victory against Everton to become the youngest goalscorer in both the Premier League and the club's history.[24] He achieved this feat at 16 years and 73 days old, breaking the previous record held by James Vaughan from 2005.[25]
International career
Dowman made his England U16 and England U17 debuts in 2024.[26] He was included in the squad for the 2025 UEFA European Under-17 Championship.[27] He featured as a starter in all three of England's games, including a 4–2 win against the Czech Republic, where he scored the opening goal.[28]
Dowman made his England U19 debut during a 2–0 win over Ukraine at Pinatar Arena on 3 September 2025.[29] Dowman became the youngest-ever goalscorer for the England U19 side, beating Ryan Sessegnon's record from 2016, in a 7–0 win against Wales.[30]
Style of play
Comfortable playing in a number of positions, Dowman has been used as an attacking midfielder and as a traditional '10' for Arsenal's youth teams, but can also play as a right winger. He is skilful, energetic and naturally gifted in the final third and is able to cut through defences with a precise and accurate pass.[7][31] Technically, Dowman's set-piece delivery stands out. He has been entrusted with corner and free-kick duties at youth level.[32] Arsenal youth team coach Gustavo Oliveira labelled Dowman the "next Kaká".[33]
