Marli Salmon has signed his first professional contract with Arsenal after turning 17 on Saturday.
The defender has been rewarded with a strong seven years at Hale End and making his senior debut in December 2025.
"It means a lot to me," Salmon said. "A lot of hard work went into this, a lot of ups and downs, but I'm so proud.
"I think it's a proud moment for my family as well, I think it's a reward for them as well, because they put so much time and effort into me. It's proof of their hard work as much as mine."
Salmon joined Arsenal in 2019 and started as a forward, but found his calling in defence as he progressed through the academy.
The youngster was included in Mikel Arteta's first-team squad on several occasions last season and made his professional debut aged 16 in Arsenal's 3-0 Champions League win at Club Brugge in December, replacing Ben White in the 83rd minute.
Salmon was subsequently named on the bench for Arsenal's Premier League win over Brighton and made further Champions League matchday squads, before earning his first senior start in a 2-1 FA Cup fifth-round victory at Mansfield in March. He also featured in earlier FA Cup wins over Portsmouth and Wigan.
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"It's always a good experience to be around [the first team]," Salmon said. "You learn so much, not even just on the pitch, but off the pitch, about how they prepare and how they carry themselves.
"It's valuable, I'm so grateful for who I've got here. You get to learn and see them in person, you see so much detail, it's very good."
Looking ahead to the new campaign, Salmon added: "I'm looking forward to attacking the season. I gave myself a good start, so let's see what it holds."
