Max Dowman presented with three Guinness World Records

Arsenal teenager Max Dowman has been presented with three Guinness World Records, even though he doesn’t turn 17 until the end of December.

Who is Max Dowman?

Born in Chelmsford, Essex, on 31 December 2009, Dowman joined Arsenal’s academy in May 2015, aged five. He made his under-18 debut at 13 and became the youngest scorer in UEFA Youth League history at 14. He has also played for England’s youth teams, and he became the youngest goalscorer for the Under-19s, breaking a record held by Ryan Sessegnon.

His first-team debut came as a substitute in a 5-0 win over Leeds in August 2025, aged 15 years and 235 days. Only Ethan Nwaneri, who debuted at 15 years and 181 days in 2022, has been younger. Weeks later, Dowman became Arsenal’s youngest-ever starter in a League Cup win over Brighton.

The three records

The first came in November 2025, when he came off the bench in Arsenal’s 3-0 win at Slavia Prague. He was aged 15 years and 308 days. He was the first 15-year-old to play in the Champions League, and he beat the previous record held by Youssoufa Moukoko, who was 16 years and 18 days old.

The second came in March against Everton. Dowman replaced Martin Zubimendi in the 74th minute and played a part in Arsenal’s opening goal, which Viktor Gyokeres scored. In stoppage time, with Jordan Pickford up for a corner, he ran from midway inside his own half, beat two defenders and tapped into an empty net. Arsenal won 2-0. He was 16 years and 73 days old. Breaking a record that James Vaughan had held since 2005 by 197 days.

The third arrived when Arsenal clinched their first league title since 2003-04. Players need five league appearances to earn a winner’s medal, and Dowman reached exactly that, all as a substitute. On the final day he was 16 years and 144 days old. Beating the record of 17 years and 350 days that Phil Foden set with Manchester City in 2017-18. He also started that final game at Crystal Palace, becoming the youngest starter in Premier League history.

A strong start to the new season

Dowman has kept up his form in 2026-27. He scored twice in Arsenal’s 4-2 Carabao Cup win at Ipswich in September. He became only the second 16-year-old to score twice in a game for a Premier League side in any competition. The first was Wayne Rooney for Everton in 2002.

Mikel Arteta’s side return from the international break with a repeat of the fixture in which Dowman made his debut. They host Leeds on Saturday.