Arsenal Prodigy Sets Unprecedented Record in the Champions League

Max Dowman made history in the Champions League as the youngest player to appear in the tournament.

Max Dowman created history in the Champions League when he came on for Arsenal in their fourth group stage match against Slavia Prague. At 15 years and 308 days old, he is now the youngest player ever to take the field, surpassing Youssoufa Moukoko, who was 16 years and 18 days old when he played for Borussia Dortmund in 2020.

Previously, Moukoko broke a 26-year-old record held by Céléstine Babayaro, who was 16 years and 86 days old when the Nigerian left-back appeared for Anderlecht against Steaua Bucharest in November 1994. Babayaro was sent off in the first half of that match.

Jack Wilshere was formerly Arsenal’s youngest player to feature in the Champions League. Positioned again on the right flank, Dowman made his fifth first-team appearance by coming on in the 72nd minute.

Dowman became the youngest player in Arsenal’s history to start a first-team match after being named in the starting lineup during the club’s victory over Brighton in the Carabao Cup last week. This record was set just weeks after he became the second youngest player—after teammate Ethan Nwaneri at Arsenal—to appear in the Premier League, making his debut as a second-half substitute against Leeds in August.

Andre Harriman-Annous also made his Champions League debut as a substitute in the 81st minute, marking his second professional appearance. Other young players like goalkeeper Alexei Rojas were called up to the Champions League squad for the first time, sitting on the bench alongside Tommy Setford, while winger Charles Sagoe Jr was also among the substitutes.

Arsenal secured a 3-0 win thanks to a penalty by Bukayo Saka and a brace from Mikel Merino. This marked Arsenal’s fourth consecutive victory in the Champions League this season, their tenth straight win across all competitions, and their eighth consecutive match without conceding a goal.