Max Dowman don send two-word message to Samuel Onyekachukwu after di youngster im exit from Arsenal don confam. Di 18-year-old central defender join Gunners from Watford academy at age 11 but go leave di club when im contract finish dis month end. Im make 17 appearances for Arsenal youth sides for di 2025/26 season but from next campaign go play im football outside north London.
For an emotional goodbye message wey im post on Monday, di teenager tok for Instagram: “E don tough but after seven incredible years at Arsenal my time don reach end. I dey grateful to every coach, staff member, teammate, and supporter wey don be part of my journey. Thank you for di memories, lessons, friendships, and unwavering support through every high and low. Wearing dis badge don be privilege and something I go always dey proud of. Once a Gunner, always a Gunner. Most importantly, thank You God for Your faithfulness, guidance, and every opportunity along di way. Di best still dey come.”
Di post don get thousands of likes and Dowman na among those wey take comment. “My brother,” di 16-year-old write, followed by two heart emojis. Arsenal Under-18 goalkeeper Khari Ranson, wey play alongside Onyekachukwu, write: “Good luck my brother.” Jack Porter simply say: “Chucks man.” Ife Ibrahim, wey make im senior Arsenal debut for Champions League win over FC Kairat for January, also comment, as well as Manchester United youngster and former Arsenal youngster Chido Obi.
Last week Arsenal announce Onyekachukwu and 14 other players across di academy and women’s team go leave di club dis summer. Sam Chapman, Harrison Dudziak, Seb Ferdinand, Cam’ron Ismail, Will Lannin-Sweet, Josh Nichols, Onyekachukwu and Alexei Rojas-Federushchenko na di academy stars wey dey depart Emirates Stadium, di club confam. Dey also get some big names wey dey leave di women’s team dis summer with Katie McCabe, Beth Mead, Manuela Zinsberger, Laia Codina, Victoria Pelova, Barbora Votikova and Naomi Williams all set to depart.
For a club statement, Arsenal say: “We thank all di players wey dey leave us for dia contributions to di club. You go always be part of di Arsenal Family, and we wish you all di best of health and happiness for dia futures. Any further developments regarding players extending dia contracts, as well as joining/re-joining, or leaving us, go dey officially communicated when confam.”
Meanwhile, Max Dowman don dey nominated for Professional Footballer’s Association (PFA) Young Player of di Season award after a record-shattering season for north London. At just 16 years old, Max na now di youngest player to start a match, score a goal or win di title for Premier League era, and e be championship wey we maybe no for don win without di teenager contributions. Di season start with bang for Max, wey come off di bench against Leeds United to win a penalty, which Viktor Gyokeres convert for a 5-0 win. After di first international break of di season, Max feature for our under-19s and under-21s, but remain determined to return to di first team. Im show im worth by scoring stunning goals against Bayern Munich for UEFA Youth League and Wolves for Premier League 2. Max get im opportunity to prove himself for our Carabao Cup tie against Brighton & Hove Albion, where im light up a cold, rainy night for N5 with a sparkling performance. But just a few weeks later, an ankle injury leave our hot prospect out of action until March. E be worth di wait to see Max back for action though, as im return for sensational style against Everton. With di score goalless, Max hook a delicious ball to di back post, which Piero Hincapie put back across goal for Gyokeres to tap home for di 89th minute. Dat no be di end of Max magic dat night, as di teenager then take di ball from one penalty area to di other to double our lead for stoppage time, creating one of di most memorable celebrations Emirates Stadium don see. For im first season as a nominee, Max join five other standout young players from dis Premier League season on di shortlist. Manchester City duo Nico O’Reilly and Rayan Cherki feature, as well as rival Manchester United midfielder Kobbie Mainoo. Liverpool Rio Ngumoha dey nominated, as well as Eli Junior Kroupi, wey score for Bournemouth against Manchester City for di 1-1 draw wey ultimately secure us di league title. Di winners of di various PFA Awards go dey announced at a special ceremony for Manchester on Tuesday, August 25.
