While Arsenal fans are glued to transfer rumors about proven superstars, it’s impossible to ignore the golden wave of talent emerging from Hale End. These youngsters aren’t just making up the numbers – they’re breaking records, stepping into big roles, and forcing their way into top-flight conversations.
According to transfer expert Fabrizio Romano, Ethan Nwaneri, the youngest player ever to feature for Arsenal’s senior team (debuting at just 15 in 2022), is close to signing a new long-term deal as Hale End continues to produce ballers who are either shining for Arsenal or making their mark elsewhere in top European leagues.
From England national team debut goals to first-team breakthroughs under Mikel Arteta, these graduates are proof that Hale End remains one of the best football academies in England.
From Bukayo Saka to Ethan Nwaneri, the Hale End Arsenal Academy graduates are proving why this youth setup is among the best in Europe. Here’s a ranking of Arsenal’s most exciting Hale End graduates and prospects, ordered from least popular rising stars to the biggest names dominating world football.
🔻 The Ones to Watch – Talents Still Cooking
6. Marli Salmon – Arsenal’s Next Defensive Gem in the Making
Marli Salmon has already drawn early comparisons to William Saliba thanks to his calmness in possession and defensive composure – traits rarely seen in players his age.
At just 15 years old, Salmon played 5 matches in the EPL U18 Premier League and 4 more in the FA Youth Cup last season, racking up over 500 minutes across those competitions and more than 1,000 minutes in his young career.
Impressively, he started 5 games for Arsenal’s U21 team as a schoolboy, a rare achievement that underlines how highly rated he is by Arsenal’s coaching staff.
The centre-back/right-back hybrid is also a regular for England’s U16 national team .
Salmon’s rapid rise continued this summer when Mikel Arteta included him in Arsenal’s pre-season camp in Spain. He also signed scholarship terms with Arsenal in 2025, officially making him a full-time Hale End scholar.
If he continues on this trajectory, Salmon could be the next great defensive talent to graduate from Hale End.
5. Tommy Setford – Arsenal’s Attacking Goalkeeper with Big Potential
Tommy Setford might just be the next great goalkeeper to emerge from Hale End. Signed from Ajax in 2024 for less than £1 million on a four-year deal, the 19-year-old English goalkeeper is already highly regarded for his quick reflexes, commanding presence in the box, and calmness under pressure.
Despite his age, Setford’s career development has been rapid. Across his time in the Netherlands and England, he has already featured in 58 professional matches, racking up over 5,000 minutes of playing time.
Arsenal’s academy manager, Per Mertesacker, spoke highly of him:
“He is a young goalkeeper with big potential.”
Setford made his Arsenal first-team debut in the 2024/25 season, playing against Preston North End, and is currently plays with Arsenal’s U21 team.
Setford calls himself an “attacking goalkeeper”, a playful but accurate description of his modern, ball-playing approach. His game-reading ability and confidence in starting attacks from the back can make him a perfect fit for Mikel Arteta’s possession-based system.
Born in Haarlem, Netherlands, Setford is eligible to play for England’s national team and has already represented England at youth levels and if his development continues, he could one day challenge for a spot as England’s future No.1 goalkeeper.
4. Max Dowman – Arsenal’s Next Midfield Prodigy
Max Dowman, born in Chelmsford in England, is one of the most exciting talents to emerge from the Arsenal academy in recent years and was nominated for the 2024-25 PFA Young Player. Many football authorities like John Terry are convinced Max Dowman is a top talent.
The versatile teenager, who can play both as an attacking midfielder and on the right wing, is widely regarded as one of Hale End’s brightest prospects.
At just 15 years old (turning 16 in December 2025), Dowman has already caught the eye of Mikel Arteta, who hinted that the teenager is ready for first-team minutes and will likely be promoted to the senior squad for the 2025/26 season.
In the 2024/25 season, Dowman playing for Arsenal’s U18 side, he scored 15 goals and provided 15 assists in just 15 matches— highlighting his creativity, goal-scoring instinct, and technical superiority. In total, he has made 30 youth appearances, clocking over 2,400 minutes of competitive football.
Physically, Dowman often appears stronger, faster, and more skillful than his peers, dominating midfield transitions and dictating play with a maturity beyond his years. Many Arsenal fans view him as the club’s next big academy breakthrough.
While some supporters doubt whether he’ll get immediate first-team minutes due to Arsenal’s stacked midfield options, the club is expected to use cup competitions to gradually integrate him into senior football.
Giving him playing time will also be crucial in fending off transfer interest from European giants—both Barcelona and Manchester City are reportedly monitoring his development. However, according to HandofArsenal on X, Arsenal have a clear path development for the gem.
There were also rumors of Chelsea exploring a swap deal involving Noni Madueke, but those links have since cooled. A family member, Robert Dowman, dismissed the speculation in a now-viral X post, stating:
“John, Arsenal are our club. You know that.”
The buzz around Dowman continues to grow among Arsenal fans. One comment on Reddit summed up the excitement perfectly:
“Seems an absolute gem. Hopefully the Saka, Nwaneri, Lewis-Skelly pipeline continues.”
Another fan jokingly reminded everyone of his age:
“The kid’s still 15, at least let him finish his GCSEs before we call for him to be played lol.”
If Dowman continues on this trajectory, Arsenal could soon have another homegrown star following in the footsteps of Bukayo Saka and Ethan Nwaneri.
3. Ethan Nwaneri – Arsenal’s Record-Breaking Wonderkid
Ethan Nwaneri has already etched his name into Premier League history. Born in 2007 in Enfield, London, the attacking midfielder became Arsenal’s youngest-ever debutant when he played against Brentford in 2022 at just 15 years and 181 days old.
Having joined the Arsenal academy at the age of 8, Nwaneri is now 18 years old and on the verge of signing a new long-term Arsenal contract—a clear sign of Mikel Arteta’s faith in his future. So good was Nwaneri that he drew comparison with Barcelona’s sensation Lamine Yamal.
Although born to a Nigerian father and English-French mother, Nwaneri is regarded as a future England international and is expected to be a regular for the Three Lions in the coming years if his career growth develops well.
Primarily an attacking midfielder, Nwaneri has also been deployed on the right wing, potentially setting up a midfield battle for minutes with fellow Hale End star Max Dowman.
And if you’re wondering who the youngest player in Arsenal’s first team is, it’s still Ethan Nwaneri—at least until Max Dowman makes his senior debut, which would make him the youngest instead.
In his young career, Nwaneri has played 91 competitive matches, accumulating 5,305 minutes, scoring 36 goals, and providing 12 assists. His contributions include 2 goals in the UEFA Champions League and that unforgettable “sexy” goal against Nottingham Forest in Arsenal’s 3-0 win—a strike Arsenal fans remember well.
According to Sky Sports, Nwaneri had the best goals-per-90 record in Arsenal’s entire squad in the 2024/25 season, averaging 1.44 goals per 90 minutes—a number significantly higher than Kai Havertz (0.48) and Bukayo Saka (0.40).
His former academy coach Dan Micciche had high praise for him:
“I was fortunate to coach Phil Foden, Jadon Sancho, and Cole Palmer in England’s youth teams. For me, Ethan is in that tier.”
That is elite company, and Arsenal clearly agrees. The club is reportedly set to offer Nwaneri a five-year contract, underlining just how highly they rate him.
2. Myles Lewis-Skelly – Arsenal’s Defensive Sensation Breaking Records
Myles Lewis-Skelly, born in 2006 in Denmark Hill, London, was one of Arsenal’s breakout stars of the 2024/25 season. Initially called upon to cover the left-back position during an injury crisis, the teenager exceeded all expectations, delivering performances that earned him a nomination for the 2024/25 PFA Young Player of the Year, alongside Ethan Nwaneri.
The 18-year-old left-back/right-back sensation also gathered plenty of media attention on the international stage. On his England senior debut, he scored, becoming the youngest player ever to score for England at 18 years and 176 days.
In the summer of 2025, Lewis-Skelly signed a new contract keeping him at Arsenal until 2030, despite reported interest from Real Madrid—a clear sign of Mikel Arteta’s belief in his future.
Known for his composure, physical strength, stamina, and maturity beyond his years, Lewis-Skelly held his own against Europe’s best. He impressed in the UEFA Champions League quarter-finals against Manchester City and Real Madrid, showing he could already perform at the highest level.
Myles Lewis-Skelly has already made 87 career appearances, including 23 in the Premier League and 10 in the Champions League, scoring 6 goals and providing 7 assists while clocking 5,831 career minutes. The 2024/25 season was particularly impressive, as he made a remarkable 39 appearances in all competitions and finished with the 7th highest passing accuracy in the Premier League (93.55%), underlining his technical excellence and reliability.
According to Squawka, he became only the third defender in eight EPL seasons to play 20+ games without being dribbled past even once. Opta further confirmed that by the end of the season, Lewis-Skelly had been dribbled past just once in 1,370 EPL minutes—a statistic that places him among the most reliable young defenders in Europe.
Though primarily used as a left-back, several pundits, including England coach Thomas Tuchel, believe his long-term future lies in midfield as a number 8, thanks to his ability to progressively carry the ball while shielding it under pressure.
With his rare mix of defensive solidity, technical brilliance, and tactical versatility, Myles Lewis-Skelly looks destined to become one of Arsenal’s most important players of the next decade.
How Mikel Arteta plans to give game time to Arsenal’s rising stars next season might be tougher than many expect—especially with rumors suggesting Ethan Nwaneri’s contract talks included promises of minutes on the pitch. You can read more about Arteta’s selection headache here.
1. Bukayo Saka – Arsenal’s Poster Boy and Hale End’s Greatest Star
Bukayo Saka is not just Arsenal’s poster boy—he is arguably Hale End’s greatest product of the last decade. A full England international, Premier League star, and massive fan favorite, Saka has already cemented his place as one of Europe’s best wingers despite being only 23 years old.
Saka has made 195 Premier League appearances, scoring 53 goals and providing 51 assists. Across his entire career—including youth competitions—he has already surpassed 300 appearances and logged over 23,000 minutes of professional football, remarkable numbers for someone still so young.
Mikel Arteta’s reliance on Saka has often been a topic of debate among Arsenal fans, with some blaming his recent injury on burnout due to the heavy workload. However, that situation may change soon as Noni Madueke is reportedly set to join Arsenal, providing much-needed competition and cover for the Hale End graduate.
Conclusion – Hale End’s Legacy Beyond Arsenal
The Hale End Arsenal Academy graduates continue to dominate headlines as the club’s youth system produces some of the Premier League’s brightest stars. However, the success of Hale End isn’t just reflected in Arsenal’s current squad but also in the graduates thriving elsewhere.
Martin Chido Obi is beginning to earn valuable minutes at Manchester United, while Eberechi Eze has become one of the Premier League’s most exciting attacking midfielders at Crystal Palace. He has become so good that he has been linked to a move to Arsenal.
However, according to reports, Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta may struggle to convince all these Hale End talents that they can all get game time, especially since Eze, Nwaneri and others are mostly attacking players – part of the gaffer’s selection headache ahead of next season You can read more about Arteta’s selection headache here.
Emile Smith Rowe, now at Fulham, remains a technically gifted fan favorite despite injury setbacks, and Alex Iwobi continues to be a reliable and versatile Premier League presence.
Meanwhile, Emi Martinez’s journey from Hale End to becoming a World Cup-winning goalkeeper at Aston Villa proves that Arsenal’s academy consistently produces players capable of shining at the very highest level.
The success of Hale End Arsenal Academy graduates thriving at other clubs, like Emi Martinez and Eberechi Eze, highlights the academy’s global impact
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