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Arsenal Champions League Squad Shocks with 15-Year-Old Pick

Published

8 months ago

September 5, 2025

Arsenal Champions League squad includes 15-year-old Max Dowman, while Nwaneri and Lewis-Skelly are left off List A due to UEFA rules

Arsenal Champions League squad selections for the 2025/26 group stage raised eyebrows across Europe this week, with 15-year-old Max Dowman making the prestigious List A — while highly-rated academy stars Ethan Nwaneri and Myles Lewis-Skelly were conspicuously absent.

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Was it a snub? Not quite. The decision is rooted not in tactics, but in UEFA’s complex squad registration rules — and shows Arsenal playing a smart off-pitch game.

Under UEFA regulations, the Champions League squad is split into two lists:

List A:

Max 25 players
Minimum 8 locally trained players (4 must be club-trained)
If the quota isn’t met, the squad shrinks accordingly
Can only be changed in February before the Round of 16

Arsenal named 23 players on List A, including big names like Bukayo Saka, Declan Rice, Martin Ødegaard, and new signing Viktor Gyökeres — alongside Dowman, the youngest of them all.

Unlimited additions allowed
Players must be born after 1 January 2004
Must have been registered at the club for two continuous years since age 15, or three years with one short loan

Clubs can submit List B players up to midnight before each match, making it a flexible tool for integrating youth talent.

Here’s the twist: Max Dowman is too young to qualify for List B. At just 15, he hasn’t been registered for two full years since his 15th birthday — making him ineligible for the youth list.

To ensure he could feature at all, Arsenal had to register him on List A.

Far from a PR stunt, this move reveals manager Mikel Arteta’s serious belief in Dowman’s potential.

Both Ethan Nwaneri (17) and Myles Lewis-Skelly (18) do qualify for List B, having spent the required time at Arsenal since age 15. That means:

No need to use up precious List A slots
They remain eligible for every match
They can be added match by match, offering maximum flexibility

So while their names aren’t on UEFA’s main list, they’re still firmly part of the Champions League plans.

Goalkeepers:
David Raya, Kepa Arrizabalaga, Tommy Setford

Defenders:
William Saliba, Cristhian Mosquera, Ben White, Piero Hincapié, Gabriel, Jurrien Timber, Riccardo Calafiori

Midfielders:
Martin Ødegaard, Eberechi Eze, Christian Nørgaard, Leandro Trossard, Noni Madueke, Mikel Merino, Kai Havertz, Martin Zubimendi, Declan Rice, Max Dowman

Forwards:
Bukayo Saka, Gabriel Martinelli, Viktor Gyökeres

List B (to be named before each match):
Expected to include Ethan Nwaneri, Myles Lewis-Skelly, and other Hale End academy players.

Arsenal’s approach ensures:

List A space is preserved for senior roles
Young stars remain eligible through List B
Max Dowman can legally feature under UEFA rules

It’s a clever balance of regulatory compliance and forward-thinking development — proof that Arteta and the Arsenal hierarchy are managing their squad with both tactical precision and long-term vision.

Arsenal begin their Champions League journey away to Athletic Bilbao on September 16.

Whether Dowman makes the matchday squad or not, his inclusion has already made history.