Max Dowman has been dubbed to supposedly ease Arsenal's perpetual injury crisis.
He has already made a significant impact in the Premier League, with several impressive appearances as a substitute for Mikel Arteta’s team.
The second-youngest player to represent the Gunners senior side and the second-youngest to play in the English top-flight, Dowman has been training with the first-team squad since he was 14.
Due to his age, Arsenal implemented specific protocols, such as a separate changing room from his team-mates before training and on matchdays, a strong focus on his education with built-in study time, and dedicated security support.
Why is Max Dowman not in EA Sports FC 26?
While Max Dowman is eligible to play in the Champions League without age restrictions, FIFA rules prevent him from signing a professional contract until he turns 17. Particularly in the UK, unlike Under-16 players in the United States eligible for professional contracts - albeit with restrictions and considerations - players cannot sign professional contracts until they are 17 years of age. So, because he has not yet signed a professional contract with Arsenal (or any other club) due to his age, he will not be included in FC 26.
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Will Max Dowman be added in EA FC 27?
EA currently have a policy against including players who are under 17 years old in the game’s database, especially if they have not yet signed a professional contract. Max Dowman turns 17 on 31 December 2026. So EA might wait until the new instalment of the game (FC 27) or around halfway through FC 27 when he is eligible under their internal rules.
If Dowman maintains his current rate of development, he is expected to have an exceptional player card when he is eventually added to the game's database.