Myles Lewis-Skelly

Early career

Lewis-Skelly joined the academy of Premier League side Arsenal as a child at the age of eight. He progressed through the academy alongside friend and teammate Ethan Nwaneri, and the pair made their under-18 debut together in a 6–1 win over Reading, with both players scoring. Lewis-Skelly drew acclaim for his performances in Arsenal's 2022–23 FA Youth Cup campaign, in which they reached the final before being defeated by West Ham United. In the fifth-round game played on 6 February 2023, he was deployed in a defensive midfield role as Arsenal beat Watford 4–2, before agreeing a scholarship deal with the club later in the same month, keeping him at Hale End for another two years, during which time he would become eligible for a professional contract. His performance in the quarter-final win against Cambridge United earned the praise of U-18 coach and former Arsenal midfielder Jack Wilshere, who stated that Lewis-Skelly was capable of "things you can't coach". In the semi-final against Manchester City, he scored the winning goal in the final minute of extra time, as Arsenal went on to win 2–1.

Arsenal

On 5 October 2023, Arsenal announced that Lewis-Skelly had signed his first professional contract with the club. He made his senior debut for the club on 22 September 2024 in a 2–2 draw away at Manchester City, coming on for Jurriën Timber in second-half injury time. In the same match, he received a yellow card by referee Michael Oliver before his…

Youth

Lewis-Skelly's parents are both British, and his grandparents are of mixed Caribbean heritage (Barbados, Guyana, Jamaica, and St Lucia), and he is eligible to represent both England and Barbados at international level. During his youth career with Arsenal, he trained with the Barbados national football team. Having represented England at under-16 level, Lewis-Skelly was called up to the under-17 squad for the 2023 UEFA European Under-17 Championship. In England's second game of the tournament, Lewis-Skelly scored after seven minutes in an eventual 4–1 win over the Netherlands. On 6 September 2023, Lewis-Skelly made his England U-18 debut during a 2–0 defeat to France in Limoges. A month later, on 2 November, he was included in the England squad for the 2023 FIFA U-17 World Cup. On 7 September 2024, Lewis-Skelly made his England U-19 debut during a 1–1 draw away to Croatia.

Senior

On 14 March 2025, Lewis-Skelly received his first England senior call-up for the 2026 FIFA World Cup qualification matches against Albania and Latvia under head coach Thomas Tuchel. Starting as a left-back in the match against the former on 21 March, Lewis-Skelly scored the first goal of the match in the 20th minute and was awarded man of the match. At 18 years and 176 days old, he became the youngest England player to score on his senior debut, breaking the record previously held by Marcus Rashford.

Predominantly a central midfielder, capable of playing in both attacking and defensive roles, Lewis-Skelly has also filled in at left-back for Arsenal's under-21 side and first team, and for the England national football team. The football website Goal described him as "excellent with the ball at his feet", with "impressive technique", and "an engine needed to be able to get from box to box". Lewis-Skelly has garnered stylistic comparisons to the likes of Arturo Vidal and Michael Essien, all-action midfielders capable of imposing themselves onto games.

Myles Anthony Lewis-Skelly was born on 26 September 2006, in Denmark Hill, London. His parents are both British-born of mixed Barbadian and Guyanese descent. He also holds Barbadian nationality. During his time at Arsenal's Academy, Hale End, Lewis-Skelly attended Aldenham School in Hertfordshire, playing simultaneously for his school and academy team.