Arsenal set to hand second Arsenal star contract upgrade after Bukayo Saka, “You cannot teach that…”
Arsenal are closing in on securing the future of Max Dowman after reaching an agreement for his scholarship terms.
Dowman joined the Arsenal youth academy in 2015 and has flourished since arriving at the club.
On 29 October 2025, Dowman became Arsenal’s youngest ever starter when he was named in the starting XI to face Brighton in the fourth round of the Carabao Cup, at just 15 years and 302 days old.
Less than a week later, he made more history by becoming the youngest player to feature in the Champions League, coming on for Leandro Trossard with 17 minutes remaining of a 3-0 victory against Slavia Prague.
Max Dowman has stood out for his direct dribbling and confidence on the ball, earning praise from Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta, who said: “What he’s done on the pitch – he comes in, the first ball he takes is he takes people on, he starts to dribble and gets a foul.
“That’s personality, that’s courage – and you cannot teach that. You have it, or you don’t.”
Arsenal reach agreement to secure Dowman future
After impressing so early into his development, Max Dowman has been rewarded by Arsenal, who were keen to retain his services.
It has been reported by The Times that Dowman has reached an agreement to sign scholarship terms that will officially begin next season.
Now that the Englishman has turned 16, he can also begin talks over his first professional contract, which would start when he turns 17 in December.
This reflects the great work being done at Hale End, with Dowman set to follow the path of other recent academy graduates such as Ethan Nwaneri and Myles Lewis-Skelly, who signed new deals last summer.
Other contract extensions on the horizon
Arsenal and Andrea Berta are clearly focused on ensuring long-term stability at the club by securing the future of not only academy products, but also key cogs of the well-oiled Arsenal machine.
Great delight was expressed by supporters yesterday, who welcomed the news that Bukayo Saka has agreed a new and improved five-year contract at Arsenal, with the 24-year-old expected to become the highest earner at the club in a deal that would run until 2031.
Read more: Brilliant reason why Arsenal handed Bukayo Saka new contract as five-year deal details emerge
Arsenal have also moved closer to agreeing new deal with Jurrien Timber and plan to hold talks with Martin Ødegaard, Kai Havertz, David Raya, and Mikel Merino, all of whose contracts expire in 2028.
Discussions with Declan Rice are also on the horizon, with his contract also ending that summer, although there is an option to extend until 2029.
