Arsenal 17yo handed new deal after first-team debut last season | OneFootball

Arsenal youth goalkeeper Jack Porter has put pen to paper on his first professional contract, the club have confirmed.

Photo via Arsenal.com

Arsenal have officially announced that Jack Porter has signed a professional contract with the club, having become eligible for a pro deal after turning 17 last month.

It evidently didn’t take the club long to agree terms with the youth goalkeeper, and he’s now looking to push on in north London.

“I want to play as much football as possible [in 2025/26], to be in and around England set-ups, to be playing whatever age group, 18, 21s, and, if the opportunity comes, first team,” Porter told Arsenal.com.

Photo by Alex Pantling/Getty Images

Porter has of course already made his debut for the Arsenal first team, appearing for Mikel Arteta’s side in the 5-1 League Cup win over Bolton Wanderers last season.

The circumstances of that debut were certainly unusual. David Raya, Tommy Setford, and Lucas Nygaard had all picked up untimely injuries, and loanee Neto was ineligible to play in the League Cup having already featured in the competition for his parent club.

Porter became the youngest starter in Arsenal’s history as a result, but it’s unlikely a similar scenario will occur in 2025/26. For the time being, the 17-year-old will continue to play for the academy teams instead.

Photo by Alex Pantling/Getty Images

Porter has opened the new season with the Arsenal u18s, starting their first two fixtures in the u18 Premier League – a 2-1 away win over Norwich City and a 3-2 victory at home to Southampton.

But after making his Arsenal u21 debut last season as well, Porter will hope to get the chance to step up at times again this time around.

Internationally, Porter is expected to be involved with the England u17s at the u17 World Cup in November.