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Reports Outline Max Dowman Pre-Agreement at Arsenal as Club Plays Down Exit Fears

FA rules bar a professional contract until he turns 17, leaving a scholarship year in which he could legally move.

Overview

  • Journalist Nicolò Schira reports the 15-year-old has agreed personal terms with Arsenal after rejecting five foreign clubs, with a scholarship pre-agreement from December 2025 and a first professional deal scheduled for December 2026.
  • Arsenal Insider says a new scholarship is prepared when Dowman turns 16 at the end of December, and club sources express confidence he wants to stay despite the legal vulnerability before a pro contract.
  • The scholarship would cover the 12 months before his 17th birthday, during which he could still choose to join another club under current regulations.
  • Dowman has already made senior appearances for Arsenal and became the youngest player in Champions League history at 15 years and 308 days with a cameo against Slavia Prague.
  • Figures around the club have praised his talent, with Mikel Arteta highlighting his training levels, Jack Wilshere calling him a better prospect than he was, and David Raya urging against player comparisons while lauding his composure.