England U-17 Discussions Thread #3 (2009 born)

Saw this on Twitter, Dowman's u18 stats

MF: Max Dowman, Arsenal

The best player I saw against Chelsea at any age group last season and it wasn't close. Every bit as good as advertised; Arsenal won at Cobham because of him. He has this uncanny dribbling style moving + protecting it at the same time. Remarkable talent. pic.twitter.com/UeEKLaumSZ

— Chelsea Youth (@chelseayouth) June 19, 2025

 

Be interesting to see what happens with Alejandro Gomes Rodríguez now Lyon have been relegated to the second division. Will he stay or be sold.

 

Newcastle are poised to pull off a coup by signing former Liverpool prospect Isaac Moran. (Daily Mail)

 

Reece Wilkes has signed for Norwich.

 

Good little Youth Cup team they're going to have next season, provided everyone stays.

 

Can you expand on that, why so?

 

They've got a pretty strong U16s crop that finished runners-up at nationals, beating United & Chelsea on the way. Add that to a few decent second-years and they could cause some teams trouble.

 

Will hopefully catch them on youtube, thanks.

 

Oliver Wilkinson leaving Barnsley. Remains to be seen where he ends up.

 

posted this in the wrong thread originally

doesn't mean much of anything but Louis Page has scored twice in our first pre season game, currently beating Peterborough 3-1 (Silko Thomas got the 3rd as I was typing), very young second half side but I wouldn't be shocked to see him in and around the squad if he isn't loaned out.

Game ended 3-1

 

I think Page looked a shadow of himself for England this summer, not the player I've watched for Leicester - If only we had six Carsleys to manage every underage side. I would have Carsley manage the upcoming November World Cup.

 

Carsley is the 3rd favourite for the Leicester job funnily enough, can't see it happening though

 

Louis Page may not sign pro (w/ Leicester). scored 2x this weekend.

 

Chelsea apparently ‘floated the idea’ of involving Max Dowman in a deal for Madueke, which is something Arsenal didn’t hesitate to turn down.

The 15-year-old is considered to be the ‘crown jewel’ of Arsenal, and fortunately, the player is just as committed as his club are.

On… pic.twitter.com/Y89G9wBKUP

— TheSecretScout (@TheSecretScout_) July 8, 2025

 

🚨🔵 Freddie Lawrie has successfully passed medical with Manchester City.

U17 England captain joins Manchester City from Aston Villa on a long term deal as part of busy window for Manchester City Academy. pic.twitter.com/BuQzbAYm5m

— Fabrizio Romano (@FabrizioRomano) July 17, 2025

 

Looks like a couple from this group are off to Chelsea. In terms of those who've played for the 16s and currently have their futures up in the air, you're looking at Riley Ebho, Charlie Hardy (unlikely to be him), Oliver Wilkinson & Jashayde Greenwood.

As the article says, Walter Nutter is set to depart and accept an offer he feels is better for his long-term development, while the academy are set to add (at least) two England Under-16 internationals to this group in the weeks ahead once the PL's five-step process is complete.

— Chelsea Youth (@chelseayouth) July 18, 2025

 

Dowman is in the Arsenal pre-season tour squad so we'll likely see him play with Arsenal's senior players.

 

Is Ajay Tavares eligible for Portugal or does his surname come from one of their former African colonies? He's recently made his first-team debut for Norwich in one of their friendlies. He spends quite some time in Portugal too. We could also see their striker Ben Tree for one of the underage groups at some point if he can transition his goalscoring form to the u18 level but I'm not sure if he's a 2008 or 2009-born player. If he's an 08 seems rather unlikely for now with Rodriguez and Gray, potentially Tyjon and Ezenwata as well but the striker options behind Boast seem a lot more open for this age group so far. Defender Marli Salmon is in Arsenal's pre-season tour. Shame he's often been injured when he was called up for this group.

 

Greg Lincoln has left as U17 coach to join West Ham.

 

I thought the coach was Neil Ryan or is Lincoln just a back room coach?

 

Max Dowman - Arsenal Debut vs AC Milan!

He's just 15 years old!pic.twitter.com/vxrkZbT1FB

— AFC_Adi (@AFC_Adi06) July 23, 2025

 

Does dowman have any Nigerian Scottish Welsh or Irish blood?

 

I wouldn’t rule out Caribbean roots either since you never know these days after Smith-Rowe and Palmer.

 

Just like playing in the u17s

Max Dowman vs Newcastle

30 minutes played

pic.twitter.com/1hjZMXJp4O

— ِ (@JXComps) July 27, 2025

Hard to know what the best way for Arsenal to handle him is, he's obviously ready to be tested at senior level but if he was one day younger he wouldn't be legally old enough to play in FA competitions this season. I suppose it's a problem any club would like to have.