Arsenal have secured the future of highly-rated defender Marli Salmon after the teenager signed his first professional contract on his 17th birthday.
Salmon has completed a remarkable rise from academy attacker to a player already trusted by Mikel Arteta in the Champions League and FA Cup.
The defender agreed the professional terms in principle earlier this year and has now formally put pen to paper following an impressive spell around Arsenal’s senior squad.
Marli Salmon signs first Arsenal professional contract
Salmon officially signed his first professional deal on Saturday as he celebrated turning 17.
The teenager had already reached a pre-contract agreement with Arsenal in April, when ReadArsenal covered the club’s move to secure Salmon’s long-term future.
Speaking after completing the deal, Salmon described it as the reward for years of work.
“A lot of hard work went into this, a lot of ups and downs, but I’m so proud.”
The Standard reports that Salmon now intends to push for further first-team opportunities during Arsenal’s Premier League title defence.
From Arsenal attacker to emerging defender
Salmon’s route through Hale End has not been conventional.
BBC Sport reports that he initially joined Arsenal’s academy as an attacker before being converted into a defender.
Centre-back has since become his primary position, although Arteta has also used him at right-back during his transition into senior football.
Salmon made his competitive Arsenal debut from the bench against Club Brugge in the Champions League last December.
He then earned his first senior start against Mansfield Town in the FA Cup as Arsenal made history by selecting Salmon and Max Dowman together.
ReadArsenal covered Arteta’s historic decision to start two 16-year-olds following that breakthrough.
Mikel Arteta keeps Salmon around Arsenal first team
Salmon has continued working around Arteta’s squad rather than returning exclusively to academy football.
He travelled with the senior group during pre-season and impressed again during Arsenal’s preparations for the new campaign, including the draw against Como.
Salmon was also among the academy players retained around the first team when Arsenal travelled to Spain for their summer training camp.
Arteta has made clear that the teenager remains in his thinking.
“He’s in and around the first team.”
The Arsenal manager acknowledged that injuries had created additional opportunities but did not rule out Salmon earning minutes regardless of senior availability. (The Standard)
Salmon now targets more Arsenal opportunities
There is no need for Arsenal to rush the 17-year-old.
Salmon is competing for minutes in a defence containing considerably more experienced options, but he has already crossed several milestones much earlier than expected.
A Champions League debut, an FA Cup start and regular first-team training have all arrived before his first professional contract.
Now that contract is signed, his next challenge is converting those early opportunities into a permanent place around Arteta’s senior squad.
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