OFFICIAL: Arsenal youth star promoted to join Nwaneri and Lewis-Skelly in first team

Robin Bairner

17 May 2025 05:45 CDT
6 min read

Ethan Nwaneri, Myles Lewis-Skelly, Arsenal, 2024/25 — © IMAGO

Arsenal have moved to promote another youth star to the first-team squad on a permanent basis, joining the likes of Ethan Nwaneri and Miles Lewis-Skelly as Hale End graduates to work with Mikel Areta’s squad.

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Tommy Setford is the player taking the step up on this occasion, with the 19-year-old goalkeeper having impressed sufficiently to work alongside David Raya and loan backup Neto permanently.

The 19-year-old Setford has already made his first-team debut for Arsenal, featuring for the full 90 minutes in an EFL Cup clash against Preston North End. The Gunners won 3-0 on that occasion, with the teenager celebrating his debut with a clean sheet.

STATS

Tommy Setford

Arsenal U23

Tommy Setford

Arsenal U23

1

Games
0

Goals
0

Assists

He has subsequently appeared on the bench on a handful of occasions, including as a third-choice keeper throughout Arsenal’s strong Champions League campaign. Setford is, therefore, not a stranger to the first-team environment.

Arsenal have confirmed that he has become a permanent member of the squad less than a year after arriving from Ajax U18s.

“Tommy’s rapid development in training this season has been rewarded with a permanent place in the first-team dressing room, as he continues to settle into life in London,” the club’s official website states.

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Setford: I think I’m known as the FaceTime Kid!

Although an England U19 international, Setford admits the process of adapting to life in London has not been particularly straightforward.

“I’d lived in Holland all my life. It’s difficult because everything is very different. Holland is a much smaller country than England so I’ve had to adapt to everything – off the pitch as well. Even silly things like driving on the left – I’m not used to that! I’ve never lived by myself before either,” he admitted.

“I think I’m known as the FaceTime Kid now at the training ground because I’m always FaceTiming my parents or my brother or my girlfriend!”

Setford is expected to feature with England U19 at the European Championship this summer, during which he will hope to pick up more game time and experience that will only serve him positively back at Arsenal.

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