Max Dowman makes Champions League history as competition's first ever 15-year-old player

Arsenal continued their Champions League campaign away at Slavia Prague on Tuesday and it was a night to remember for Max Dowman after his second-half introduction

Arsenal starlet Max Dowman has set a new record as the youngest ever player to feature in the Champions League. The academy talent became the first 15-year-old to feature in the competition proper when he entered the field as a substitute against Slavia Prague.

Dowman, who made his Premier League debut earlier this season, was an unused substitute for the Gunners' first two European games against Athletic Club and Olympiacos. He was given his chance in Czechia, though, replacing Leandro Trossard for the final 17 minutes.

Arsenal had opened up a 3-0 lead when Dowman entered alongside Myles Lewis-Skelly and Ben White in a triple change. Bukayo Saka opened the scoring from the penalty spot and Mikel Merino doubled the visitors' lead early in the second half before adding his second of the night in the 68th minute.

Another Arsenal youngster, Andre Harriman-Annous, was later introduced from the bench after impressing on his senior debut against Brighton in the Carabao Cup. Manager Mikel Arteta wasn't able to name a full complement on the bench thanks to a growing injury list, but last season's Champions League semi-finalists were relatively comfortable after taking the lead.

Going into the 2025/26 season, former Borussia Dortmund star Youssoufa Moukoko was the youngest player to have featured in the Champions League. The German forward was 16 years and 18 days old at the time, but Dowman doesn't turn 16 until New Year's Eve.

Arsenal were missing several senior stars in the Czech capital. Viktor Gyokeres, Gabriel Martinelli, Gabriel Jesus, Kai Havertz, Martin Odegaard and Noni Madueke all missed out through injury, while Martin Zubimendi was suspended for the tie.

Dowman was playing in the UEFA Youth League the last time Arteta's first-team took to the field in Europe, picking up two assists as Arsenal's Under-19s lost to Atletico Madrid. The run-out in Prague continues a breakout season for the teenager, who has already played twice in the Premier League and twice in the Carabao Cup.

Arteta singled out Dowman and Harriman-Annous after a Carabao Cup fourth round win over Brighton in which both were making their first senior competitive starts. "A very special evening to be fair, very happy for various reasons," the manager said..

"Obviously, we are in the quarter-finals, and we won the game against a really tough opponent. We made 10 changes, we played players that never played together, yet we made two huge debuts for Max and Andre.

"That feeling of giving the opportunity to somebody and fulfilling a dream is unique, and I'm very happy that things turned out to be very positive, and we managed to win the game."

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