Arsenal Announce UEFA Champions League Squad with Wonderkid Included
Arsenal have officially named their 23-man squad for the 2025/26 UEFA Champions League group stage, marking a significant moment in the club’s history with the inclusion of one of their brightest young talents. The 15-year-old prodigy Max Dowman has been surprisingly included in the main squad list, an extraordinary move that underlines Arsenal’s faith in their youth development and their willingness to invest in the future.
Max Dowman, who will turn 16 this December, is on course to become the youngest player ever to feature in the UEFA Champions League should he get playing time before his birthday. Typically, UEFA regulations allow clubs to register young players aged 16 to 21 on a special “List B,” but Dowman is still under the minimum age to qualify for this. However, Arsenal’s squad adjustments — including last-minute player departures — have freed up non-homegrown slots, enabling the club to include Dowman on the primary “List A” squad.
This strategic inclusion not only showcases the club’s long-term planning but also sends a clear message about their commitment to nurturing young talent from their academy. Dowman’s rise through Arsenal’s ranks has been meteoric, and this Champions League squad selection reflects the immense potential he holds.
Alongside Dowman, goalkeeper Tommy Setford has also earned a spot on the main squad list. Setford, unlike younger players eligible for List B, does not meet the criteria due to his prior time at the club and his experience level, making his inclusion on List A necessary. Both players’ registrations point to Arsenal’s focus on blending youth with experience.
The squad announcement also featured the notable absence of striker Gabriel Jesus. Jesus, who was signed with high expectations, remains sidelined due to an ACL injury sustained in January and is not yet ready to return to competitive action. His absence leaves a gap upfront, but the rest of the team includes all eight of Arsenal’s summer signings, demonstrating how the club has strengthened its squad depth.
New additions such as goalkeeper Kepa Arrizabalaga, defenders Cristhian Mosquera and Piero Hincapié, and attacking talents Noni Madueke, Eberechi Eze, Christian Nørgaard, Martin Zubimendi, and Viktor Gyökeres have all made the Champions League squad. These signings reflect the club’s ambition to compete at the highest European level while injecting fresh energy and quality into the squad.
Arsenal’s Champions League journey for the 2025/26 season kicks off on September 16 against Athletic Bilbao. The group stage schedule promises a tough test, with away matches at Slavia Prague, Inter Milan, and Club Brugge, alongside home fixtures against Olympiacos, Atletico Madrid, Bayern Munich, and Kairat Almaty. This challenging draw will test Arsenal’s new-look squad and highlight the significance of every player, including the young prospect Dowman.
In summary, Arsenal’s announcement of their Champions League squad for this season is a blend of experienced signings and youthful promise. The historic inclusion of 15-year-old Max Dowman as the youngest squad member is a testament to Arsenal’s dedication to developing talent from within, while the presence of multiple new signings showcases their ambition to make a significant impact on Europe’s biggest stage. Fans will be watching closely to see if Dowman can make history and contribute to Arsenal’s quest for Champions League success.