
Arsenal’s Myles Lewis-Skelly is close to signing a new long-term contract with the club.
The 18-year-old’s new deal will see a substantial increase to his current salary and make him one of the best-paid young players in the world, following his rise to prominence in 2024-25.
Manager Mikel Arteta, who has a strong relationship with Lewis-Skelly, was crucial in the talks. The Englishman is represented by his mother Marcia Lewis, who negotiated the deal with Arsenal.
Lewis-Skelly signed his first professional terms when he turned 17 in October 2023. Football Association rules dictate that players under the age of 18 cannot sign contracts longer than three years.
Lewis-Skelly broke through into the first team earlier in the season, making his debut in Arsenal’s 2-2 draw with Manchester City in September, having never before played a senior football. Capable of operating in midfield, he has primarily been used as a left-back by Arteta.
The academy graduate became a regular in the team, making 39 appearances in all competitions as Arsenal reached the semi-finals of the Champions League, where they were defeated 4-1 on aggregate by Paris Saint-Germain.
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Lewis-Skelly was called up to the England squad for the first time by Thomas Tuchel for March’s World Cup qualifiers and scored on his debut against Latvia at Wembley Stadium, becoming the youngest debutant to do so aged 18 years and 176 days.
“In six-seven months, your career can change dramatically for the good, so it’s something for people to be inspired by,” Arteta said after Lewis-Skelly’s call-up. “It hasn’t happened because he was lucky. He pushed for every chance to happen.”
The latest Hale End star
Analysis by Arsenal writer Amy Lawrence
Lewis-Skelly’s whirlwind of a breakthrough season has accelerated his progress so remarkably it had to be a priority for Arsenal to improve his terms and contract to reflect his new status.
He emerged last season and it is a sign of his excellence that he became almost ever-present for Arsenal as a left-back, with the capacity to slot comfortably into midfield, despite the competition of multiple more experienced options in that position at times.
His physical power, tactical acumen, speed of learning and big personality made him the latest star off the Hale End production line to seamlessly integrate into first-team football. Some of the highlights of his short period in the first team include a debut goal against City, accompanied by a mischievous celebration, excelling in both legs of the Champions League knock-out against Real Madrid (who have cast an interested eye on his ability), and earning an England start.
Despite some difficult moments with red cards and some unseemly targeting of media and opponents for perceived arrogance, Lewis-Skelly remains grounded with an exceptional work ethic. He deserves his improved deal and will set about making waves with Arsenal and England in the coming years.
‘Unflustered, press-resistant and full of charisma’
Analysis by senior data writer Mark Carey
Nominally speaking, Lewis-Skelly has been played at left-back since breaking into Mikel Arteta’s side, but we know by now that the teenager is a midfielder by trade. Regularly drifting into central areas during Arsenal’s build-up, Lewis-Skelly has the confidence to take responsibility in progressing his side up the field — and it shows when looking at his most common pass types.
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As shown below, plenty of Lewis-Skelly’s distribution comes from that left-halfspace with passes either out to his left-sided winger or inside to a fellow midfielder to move further forward. Unflustered, press-resistant, and full of charisma on the ball — these are traits typically seen in an established midfielder in the peak of his career, let alone a teenager breaking into one of Europe’s best sides.
(Top photo: David Ramos/Getty Images)
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