Arsenal secure future of top young talent with first professional contract

Arsenal have confirmed that 17-year-old midfielder Myles Lewis-Skelly has put pen to paper on his first professional contract with the club.

Lewis-Skelly is among the most exciting prospects in English youth football right now and is the regular midfield partner of 16-year-old Ethan Nwaneri, who became the youngest player in Premier League history when he was handed his debut by Mikel Arteta in September 2022.

While Lewis-Skelly is yet to make his senior debut, the midfielder is undoubtedly among the jewels of Arsenal's academy and the Gunners have now managed to secure his future.

"It means the world to me, my boyhood club ever since I can remember. To play for Arsenal, I’m truly speechless," he told club media.

"It feels amazing. I’m so delighted because, since I was a boy, I’ve been dreaming of this moment. To say that I’m a professional football player now is a dream come true for me and I just want to thank all the staff and all my family that came to support me. For the support around me, I couldn’t be any more grateful."

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Contracts have been a key order of business for Arsenal in recent months. Nwaneri snubbed interest from Premier League rivals to sign his own professional deal during the summer, following senior stars Bukayo Saka, Gabriel Martinelli and William Saliba in inking deals before the current campaign.

Captain Martin Odegaard signed his own extension late last month and 90min understands talks are currently on with defender duo Ben White and Oleksandr Zinchenko over fresh terms.

One player whose future is far from certain, however, is midfielder Emile Smith Rowe. Having played a limited role over the past few seasons, the 23-year-old is prepared to consider his options in the January transfer window if he does not see an increase in minutes.

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