Arsenal have clinched their first Premier League title in 22 years, and tucked inside that historic achievement is yet another record for the teenager who has spent the season quietly rewriting the history books. Max Dowman, the 16-year-old midfielder, is now the youngest player ever to win the Premier League — and he is still not old enough to drive.
How the record was secured
The title was confirmed on Tuesday evening when Manchester City were held to a draw at Bournemouth, leaving Arsenal mathematically out of reach at the top of the table. At that moment, Dowman — who will be 16 years and 144 days old on Sunday's final day of the season — moved to the top of a record that had stood for nearly a decade.
He takes the honour from Phil Foden, who was 17 years and 350 days when he collected a winner's medal with City during their 2017-18 campaign. The gap between them is considerable — more than a year — which gives a sense of just how remarkable Dowman's emergence has been.
To qualify for a medal, a player must make at least five Premier League appearances. Dowman has reached that threshold, all five coming as a substitute, meaning he will be among the 40 players receiving medals when Arsenal lift the trophy.
A season of records
Sunday's title celebration is the latest chapter in what has been a staggering debut season for the north London club's academy product. Dowman first came to national attention in August 2025, when he made his senior debut at 15 years and 235 days old — instantly becoming the youngest player to appear in Premier League history.
He then went on to break another barrier in November 2025, becoming the Champions League's youngest ever player at 15 years and 308 days. And in March, a late goal at home to Everton to wrap up a 2-0 win meant he added the Premier League's youngest scorer record to his collection, clocking in at 16 years and 73 days at the time.
Four major records in a single season. It is the kind of trajectory that tends to generate serious noise in the market around a player's long-term future, though for now the story is firmly about celebration.
Illustrious company
The full list of youngest Premier League title winners places Dowman in genuinely distinguished company. Behind Foden in second place sit Rico Lewis at 18 years and 188 days, Brahim Diaz at 18 years and 283 days, and former Arsenal men Gael Clichy and Nicolas Anelka — both of whom won the title at Highbury during the club's earlier golden era.
Dowman joins Clichy, who was part of Arsène Wenger's Invincibles side in 2003-04, and Anelka, who was a teenager when Arsenal last won the league in the late 1990s. That lineage gives a sense of how seriously Arsenal have developed young talent at crucial moments in their history.
The record previously held by Foden — himself considered one of English football's great development stories — underlines the weight of what Dowman has achieved. Foden went on to win six league titles; Arsenal and their supporters will be hoping the trajectory looks similarly bright from here.
What comes next
For now, Dowman and his teammates have the small matter of a trophy lift to look forward to. Arsenal's first league title since the 2003-04 Invincibles season is on its way, and the youngest man set to receive a winner's medal will be savouring every moment of it — even if, statistically speaking, he is only just getting started.
Frequently asked
- How old is Max Dowman?
- Max Dowman will be 16 years and 144 days old on the final day of the 2025-26 Premier League season, when Arsenal are due to lift the title.
- What record did Dowman break to become the youngest Premier League title winner?
- He broke the record previously held by Phil Foden, who was 17 years and 350 days old when he won the Premier League with Manchester City in the 2017-18 season.
- Does Max Dowman qualify for a Premier League winner's medal?
- Yes. Players need a minimum of five Premier League appearances to qualify for a medal, and Dowman has made exactly five appearances this season — all as a substitute.