It was the 72nd minute of the match at the Fortuna Arena. Arsenal were leading 3-0 against hosts Slavia Prague, and with the victory in sight, manager Mikel Arteta made a bold decision. He introduced 15-year-old attacking midfielder Max Dowman into the game, marking his debut in the prestigious European competition. Dowman’s entry into the Champions League made history, as he became the youngest player ever to feature in the competition, at just 15 years and 308 days old.
The English midfielder surpassed the previous record held by Borussia Dortmund’s Youssoufa Moukoko, who, at 16 years and 18 days old, had set the record in December 2020 when he played against Zenit St Petersburg. This record stood for almost five years, but now belongs to Dowman.
Before Moukoko, the record for the youngest player in the Champions League had been held for 26 years by Nigerian former left-back Celestine Babayaro. Babayaro was just 16 years and 86 days old when he played for Anderlecht against Steaua Bucharest in November 1994.
Following Moukoko’s debut, Barcelona’s Lamine Yamal made history in September 2023 by playing his first Champions League match at 16 years and 68 days old. Yamal is now the third-youngest player in Champions League history, although he is the youngest to start a match in the competition.
Dowman, born in Chelmsford, England, in December 2009, grew up in an Arsenal-supporting family. His passion for football was evident from a young age, leading him to join Arsenal’s youth ranks in 2015 when he was just five years old.
In September, Dowman set another record as the youngest-ever goalscorer for Arsenal’s U19 team in the UEFA Youth League, at 14 years, 8 months, and 19 days. This season, Arteta gave him the chance to train with the first team, and the fruits of that decision were evident last night.
After the victory, Arteta praised Dowman’s performance. The Arsenal manager said, “The moment he got the ball for the first time, he went straight at the opponent. He was fouled while dribbling. That’s his personality, that’s courage. You can’t teach that; it has to be inside. It doesn’t matter what the passport says; wherever he goes, he’ll adapt.”
Just last week, Dowman also set a record by becoming the youngest-ever player to start in a competitive match for Arsenal in their League Cup tie against Brighton. According to ESPN, Dowman has agreed to a circle contract with Arsenal, which will come into effect on his 16th birthday, 31st December this year.
Under FIFA regulations, players cannot sign professional contracts until they turn 17. Hence, Arsenal will have to wait a little longer, but Dowman’s future at the club looks promising. Several other European clubs have reportedly shown interest in the talented teenager, although sources close to Dowman suggest he sees his future at the Emirates Stadium.
In the current Champions League season, Dowman is registered in Arteta’s 25-man squad. UEFA had confirmed in September that there are no age restrictions for players participating in the competition.
This remarkable achievement adds yet another chapter to Dowman’s promising career, and it’s clear that he is one of the brightest young talents in world football.