Most teenagers celebrate the end of the school year by making plans for the summer. Max Dowman is doing that too — only his itinerary includes a Champions League final. The 16-year-old Arsenal midfielder sealed the Premier League title on Tuesday night, became the youngest winner in the competition's history, and was back sitting his GCSEs just two days later.
A historic Tuesday, an exam hall on Thursday
Arsenal were back in at the training ground on Thursday morning, the squad still riding the wave of their first top-flight title in 22 years. Dowman, though, was absent — not through injury or fatigue, but because GCSE examinations wait for no one, not even Premier League champions. Subjects being sat this week include English language, business, economics and physical education. Which papers the youngster is facing has not been confirmed publicly, but it is fair to say few of his classmates share quite the same backstory heading into the exam room.
Dowman has made 12 appearances in all competitions this season, a remarkable contribution for a player who would not yet be old enough to vote, drive, or order a pint to toast the achievement. The record he now holds — youngest Premier League title winner — is the kind that tends to stick around for a very long time.
What comes next for Arsenal
The Gunners are not done yet, and the schedule ahead is as daunting as it is exciting. Mikel Arteta's side travel to Crystal Palace on Sunday for their final Premier League fixture of the campaign — a chance to sign off the domestic season in style. After that, attention shifts entirely to Europe.
On Saturday 30 May, Arsenal face Paris Saint-Germain in the Champions League final, a fixture that would have seemed almost fantastical to supporters just a few seasons ago. The day after that final, the club are planning a trophy parade through Islington — which means there is every chance Dowman finds himself on an open-top bus through north London before some of his classmates have finished their exam season.
Helpfully for the teenager, next week falls during half-term, meaning he will be able to focus solely on preparations for the European showpiece without needing to juggle any further revision. That is, admittedly, a sentence that has probably never been written about a GCSE student before.
Merino's return a further boost
Thursday's training session brought further good news for Arteta beyond the title celebrations. Midfielder Mikel Merino returned to the fold after being sidelined since late January with a long-term foot injury. His availability ahead of the Crystal Palace trip and, more importantly, the Champions League final will be a significant lift for a squad that has had to manage its resources carefully over the run-in.
For now, though, the story belongs to Dowman. A Premier League winner's medal and a set of GCSE certificates — not a bad start to the summer.
Frequently asked
- Who is Max Dowman and how old is he?
- Max Dowman is a 16-year-old midfielder at Arsenal who became the youngest player ever to win the Premier League title after the Gunners clinched the championship in May 2026.
- When is Arsenal's Champions League final?
- Arsenal face Paris Saint-Germain in the Champions League final on Saturday 30 May, followed by a trophy parade through Islington the day after.
- What is Arsenal's last Premier League game of the season?
- Arsenal travel to Crystal Palace on Sunday in their final Premier League fixture before turning their full attention to the Champions League final.