Copyright GIVEMESPORT
Arsenal starlet Max Dowman has taken the footballing world by storm this season after rapidly rising to the club's first team under Mikel Arteta, despite being just 15 years of age. The Gunners academy graduate joined the London outfit in 2015, and the winger has shown that age is just a number by impressing throughout the Arsenal ranks, becoming the youngest goalscorer in the UEFA Youth League last year with his strike against Atlanta when he was just 14. Dowman has continued his stunning trajectory in 2025, making his first-team debut for Arsenal this summer during their pre-season friendly clash against AC Milan, and being granted his Premier League debut as a substitute in the Gunners' commanding victory over Leeds United earlier this season. Despite proving he has the footballing credentials to feature for one of Europe's top clubs at schoolboy age, fans of the England youth star are unable to call on him in the virtual gaming world, because of his age and contractual status. After arriving on the global footballing stage at just 15, millions of football and gaming enthusiasts globally would have been excited by the prospect of calling upon the talents of Dowman in the virtual world as Arteta has done in real life this season. Given his ample attacking flair, technical skill and potential to develop into one of European football's most exciting young talents, the Gunners starlet would likely merit an exceptional card in either FC26 or the Football management simulation. However, Arsenal wonderkid Dowman has been omitted from the recent releases of popular football games, Football Manager and FC26, because of the regulations regarding his age and contract. Although Dowman is able to feature in the Champions League, doing so earlier in November with his late cameo from the bench in Arsenal's 3-0 win over Slavia Prague, stipulations in English football mean that young talents are not eligible to sign a professional contract until they turn 17. Therefore, the Essex-born winger was unable to be included in FC26 in September and the recent release of Football Manager '26, much to the likely dismay of many Arsenal supporters around the world. Additionally, the second-youngest player to feature for Arsenal and in the Premier League altogether, would need specific consent given by his parents to be included in any football video games. Earlier in the season, teenage phenom Dowman made history by becoming Arsenal's youngest-ever starter, giving a tremendous account of himself in his side's 2-0 Carabao Cup fourth-round victory against fellow Premier League side Brighton. At just 15 years and 302 days old, Dowman broke the Arsenal record set by shot-stopper Jack Porter last term, drawing ample praise from Mikel Arteta. As quoted by ESPN, Arteta said of Dowman: "For him, everything is natural, for him everything is OK. It is the way he plays. That's the secret, that he doesn't make a big fuss of it. He just does what he does best which is to play football with a lot of courage and determination. "Today again he has shown some incredible skill, the capacity to run past Premier League players aged 15, it is something definitely special." When taking into account Arteta's lofty acclaim, if he continues his breakout form for the rest of the campaign, the Gunners prodigy could have an excellent card for next year's release of the two popular football games, if he is added post-release. Looking ahead to 2027 regarding both the Football Manager and EA Sports' FC titles, Arsenal supporters may finally get their chance to use Dowman in the virtual world, as well as seeing him star on the top flight stage. The youngster turns 16 on December 31 this year, meaning that the creators of Football Manager, Sports Interactive, would be able to add Dowman to their database at some point next year in a future update. Years ago, a similar situation occurred with Dowman's now-captain Martin Odegaard, who rose to footballing prominence at a similar age in his native Norway with Stromgodset, which saw the midfielder's family allow the Football Manager developers to use him in their game. In terms of FC, creators EA Sports currently do not allow any players under the age of 17-years-old into their database, especially if the player has not yet penned professional terms with their respective club. However, with the 26-time capped England youth international's 17th birthday coming on December 31, 2026, EA may add Dowman to their database mid-way through the FC27 cycle when he qualifies for inclusion under their policies. Unfortunately for the millions of dedicated gaming and Gunners fans globally, the wait will continue to utilise the teenage prodigy's prowess in the virtual world, but if Dowman continues on his exhilarating path towards Premier League stardom, it will be worth it.
