Arsenal wonderkid Max Dowman has received his first England Under-21 call-up at the age of 16, putting him in contention to make history as the youngest player to represent the team.

According to a report by The Athletic on Friday, 6 November 2026, England Under-21 head coach Lee Carsley has included the Arsenal forward in his squad for the November international friendlies against Portugal and France.

Dowman has previously represented England at Under-16, Under-17 and Under-19 levels but will now have the opportunity to make another significant step in his international career.

If he features in either fixture, the teenager will become the youngest player to represent England at Under-21 level, surpassing the record held by Jude Bellingham.

Bellingham was 17 years, two months and two days old when he made his Under-21 debut against Kosovo in September 2020.

Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta welcomed the development but acknowledged that the youngster's international involvement means he will miss the club's next few matches.

"It's great news," Arteta said on Friday. "Everybody's excited about that. Now he has another contribution to do with the national team. Unfortunately he cannot play for us in the next few games but he will have the chance to play for the national team which is great."

Dowman has enjoyed a rapid rise at Arsenal after training with the first team throughout the 2024-25 campaign.

He established himself in Arteta's senior squad last season, making 13 appearances in all competitions and recording three goals and one assist as Arsenal won the Premier League title and reached the Champions League final.

The teenager also made history in the Champions League after becoming the competition's youngest player when he came on as a substitute against Slavia Prague in November 2025.

He subsequently became the Premier League's youngest goalscorer with his strike against Everton in March.

Dowman has made six appearances across all competitions this season, scoring twice.

However, he is currently serving a three-match suspension following his dismissal during Arsenal's Carabao Cup defeat to League Two side Fleetwood Town. The club's appeal against the ban was unsuccessful.

He will be joined in the England Under-21 squad by Arsenal team-mates Ethan Nwaneri, currently on loan at Borussia Dortmund, and Tommy Setford, who is spending the season at Stevenage.