Arsenal’s prodigious talent, Max Dowman, has captured the attention of the football world, making history as one of the youngest ever players to feature for the club’s senior team. With his eye catching performances and immense potential, fans of the EA Sports FC franchise were naturally eager to manage the English wonderkid in their Career Mode or Ultimate Team. However, those hopes have been dashed for the time being. Dowman’s absence from FC 26 is not a creative decision, nor is it a sign of underappreciation for his talent. Instead, it comes down to a fundamental regulatory policy related to age and professional contracts.
The primary reason Max Dowman does not feature in FC 26 is his age. As a general, though often unwritten rule, EA does not include players in the game’s official database who are under the age of 17, especially if they have not yet signed a professional contract. In the United Kingdom and under FIFA rules, a player is ineligible to sign a professional contract until they turn 17. As Max Dowman, born on December 31, 2009, did not turn 17 until after the game’s release and its typical development cycle, he falls outside the standard eligibility criteria. Arsenal fans will have to wait until FC 27 to be able to use him in game luckily he will be staying with the Gunners as Arsenal have reached a Scholarship agreement with the 15 year old. This policy aligns with a broader industry standard aimed at protecting minors and ensuring that game developers are not featuring players who are still strictly under youth contracts and are not members of global players’ unions like FIFPRO.
🚨 Arsenal reach agreement with Max Dowman to sign scholarship terms – with pro deal expected to follow when turns 17 (Dec 31, 2026). 15yo could have moved anywhere & for more money but only wanted #AFC + terms in process of being finalised @TheAthleticFC https://t.co/9rgRXZo5hz
— David Ornstein (@David_Ornstein) October 23, 2025
This situation is not unique to Dowman. Other high profile young stars, such as Barcelona’s Lamine Yamal, was similarly omitted from the game in FC 24 until he met the age and contractual requirements. Dowman will not feature in FC 26 at any point, even in winter squad updates, as he does not turn 17 until December 31, 2026. Unlike Yamal who was playable in FC 24 due to the Euro 2024 game mode there is no such mode to be added. The initial roster for EA Sports FC 27 is typically finalized before his 17th birthday. Therefore, he is likely to be omitted from the initial launch roster for that title as well. The most probable time for Max Dowman to be officially added to the game’s database is during the winter roster update for EA Sports FC 27, shortly after he celebrates his 17th birthday and becomes eligible for a professional contract.
While his on field career with Arsenal has taken off at a remarkable pace even seeing him named to the club’s Champions League List A squad (due to other UEFA rules about List B youth eligibility), his presence in the virtual world remains tied to a policy. For now, supporters will have to wait for the next iteration of the game to fully unlock the Arsenal wonderkid in their digital squads.
