The coaches of the FA youth team are considering promoting Max Dowman to the U19 team in England after his impressive Premier League debut for Arsenal against Leeds.
The 15-year-old is off 16 times at the U17 level, scored five international goals and was an important member of the U17 team of England in the summer and started each of their three European champion matches.
Now – after winning a penalty against Leeds in Saturday's 5-0 victory for Arsenal – there is a possibility that he will jump a different age group, as recognition for his progress in senior football.
But to make that happen – because Dowman is still a minor – it will need the agreement of both his family and Arsenal. His development will be carefully managed – by club and country.
His teammate Ethan Nwaneri -the only Arsenal player who made his Premier League debut at a younger age than Dowman -was promoted to the U21 side of England in March, at the age of 17 -after careful consideration of his willingness.
Nwaneri became an important player for the Lee Carsley team when they retained their Euro crown in June, with all six games.
The feeling about Downman, Sky Sports News has been told, is similar – because many in the FA feel that he is now ready to go to the U19s, but more discussions will be held before a definitive decision is made.
Gunners -Baas Mikel Arteta doubts no doubts about Downman's pedigree, and his hunger for big games and says after Saturday's game with Leeds: “There is a child here who has zero hesitation and is so convinced that he can go at the age of 15, which I have never seen in my life.
“For us he brings joy, he brings emotion and something else that makes our jobs so great.”
The teenager has been involved in the Junior teams of England for several years and makes his international debut for the U16s – and then the U17s – in 2024.
However, the FA and Arsenal are in mind that he still has to take his GCSEs next spring and because of his age he cannot play Champions League football until January 1, 2026.
Dowman stood out for Arsenal in the preseason, came out of the couch on various occasions and impressed Arteta with the impact he had made.
That led Arteta to apply him to the Emirates on Saturday – albeit with his side 4-0 up. In addition, in 15 years and 234 days old, Dowman became the second youngest player to stand up for Arsenal.
Dowman immediately aroused the home crowd with a number of runs through the right wing and won the penalty in stopping that Viktor Gyokeres turns 5-0.
Next: Inside the Rise of Dowman
“Wearing Ball is his super power completely”, “former Arsenal Academy coach Temisan Williams – now founder of coach Accelerator Masterclass Community – to Sky Sports.
“I coached Max all season when he was a U11S player and from the start I thought:” Okay, there is something very special about this young man. “
Dowman is now the most spoken teenager in the Premier League. He checked his first team and then in a matter of weeks of competitive debut. All this leads to the question: how far can he go? And how fast?
“Champions League, World Cup, Premier League,” says Williams. “He has all the possibilities; he has the mentality. Mikel Arteta would not put him in the fold at that age if he didn't.”
There can be little doubt- Max Dowman is the next.
Why the Academy of Arsenal is the largest possession
The Emirates Stadium crackled every time the ball arrived at Dowman's feet. Just like in the pre-season races of Arsenal, his teammates made a joint attempt to place it there. It is easy to understand why. The 15-year-old is a special talent.
Leeds could not control him. The drip of the shoulder to win the late penalty from Arsenal has closed an exciting debut. One day of theater, of revelations, injuries and first goals, it was Dowman, a schoolboy for another four months for his 16th birthday, who stole the show.
Dowman is perhaps the most exciting academy product from Arsenal so far. He certainly seems uniquely ready for the step at his age. But in recent years he has just been the newest player of the club's production line.
Hale End continues to deliver.
Read more about how the Academy of Arsenal had a major impact here on the value of the Gunners.