Marli Salmon: Young Arsenal star signs professional deal after first-team breakthrough | OneFootball

16-year-old defender made his debut in Champions League earlier this season

Salmon, who joined the the Gunners’ academy as a nine-year-old, will officially sign a professional contract when he turns 17 on August 29.

“It's a very big moment for me, for my family as well," Salmon said.

"I'm very proud. I’ve been at the academy since I was nine and I just want to give everything to the club.

He follows Max Dowman in reaching a pre-contract agreement - Dowman will sign a professional deal on his 17th birthday in December.

Salmon was handed a scholarship last summer as he travelled with the first-team on the pre-season tour of Singapore and Hong Kong.

He was named on the bench for the Premier League defeat at Villa Park in December and then made his professional debut a few days later in Brugge.

He made his full debut when starting in the FA Cup fifth-round win over Mansfield.

With Dowman also in the side, it was the first time a Premier League side named two players aged 16 or under in a starting XI in any competition.