Max Dowman is set to make another piece of Premier League history at Selhurst Park. At 16 years and 144 days, the Arsenal teenager is due to become the competition's youngest starter, moving past Jose Baxter's 2008 mark of 16 years and 198 days.
That is only the latest line in a record-breaking rise. BBC Sport say Dowman was already the youngest Premier League player when he debuted in August 2025 at 15 years and 235 days, and the youngest scorer when he scored against Everton in March at 16 years and 73 days. He also became the Champions League's youngest player in November 2025 at 15 years and 308 days.
Why this start matters
This is not a token appearance thrown in at the end of a season. Dowman has already made five Premier League appearances, scored once and turned in a 6.78 average league rating, which is a decent return for a player this young. In Europe, he has three Champions League appearances and a 6.63 rating.
Arsenal's own position adds to the significance. They go into the game top of the Premier League with 82 points, while Crystal Palace are 15th. That does not make the record any easier to dismiss, it just shows Arsenal are willing to trust him in a match that still matters for the team, not only for the headline.
The practical question now is simple: what does Dowman do next after another record falls? For now, the answer is one more start, one more marker in a season already full of them, and another chance to stretch what has become a very fast climb.
Written by Jack Mercer with AI-assisted research, cross-checked against 2 outlets. How we work →
