OFFICIAL: Arsenal announce contract agreement with record-breaking wonderkid

Arsenal wonderkid Max Dowman has officially committed his future to the club by signing a pre-contract agreement with the Gunners.

The teenager is unable to sign his first professional contract until he turns 17 years old in December, but the north London outfit have confirmed that a pre-agreement has been reached.

As a result, Dowman will automatically sign professional terms at the Emirates Stadium later this year and his first-team involvement is expected to increase over the next few months.

The England U19 international has already made five senior appearances for Arsenal, while he has broken a plethora of records over the past year.

Dowman is now the youngest player to ever feature in the Champions League, following a substitute appearance against Slavia Prague aged 15 years and 308 days, and he is also the youngest ever starter in Arsenal’s history.

Dowman hasn’t featured for Arsenal’s first-team since November, although his absence is largely due to an ankle injury he suffered in a behind-closed-doors friendly in early December.

Max Dowman agrees Arsenal deal

Following confirmation that he will sign his first professional contract at Arsenal later this year, Dowman told the club’s official website: “This means everything to me and my family.

“We all support Arsenal and I really feel like I belong here. I’d like to thank all my coaches, teammates and, most importantly, my family and friends, who have got me to where I am today.

“I’ve been at the club my whole life, so this really means a lot. There’s such a clear pathway here, players who have come through our academy, like Bukayo [Saka], Myles [Lewis-Skelly] and Ethan [Nwaneri], who all really inspire me.

“It’s amazing to have role models so close that have experienced the same thing that I have. I’m now so excited to continue to work hard with my development.”

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