Arsenal youngster Ethan Nwaneri still remains the name on people’s lips after becoming the youngest ever Premier League debutant at 15 years and 181 days old during Sunday’s 3-0 victory over Brentford.
It may have only been a cameo appearance from the midfielder, having replaced summer signing Fabio Vieira in the 91st minute, but it still counts nonetheless and Nwaneri has etched himself into the history books as the youngest ever top flight player.
But something else that has sparked a lot of interest is whether Nwaneri gets paid at Arsenal? Mirror Football tells you all you need to know the conditions around the 15-year-old’s pay following his record-breaking debut.
Does Ethan Nwaneri get paid at Arsenal?
Having made his professional debut for Arsenal, it is understandable to assume that Nwaneri gets paid for the Gunners, regardless of his age.
However, players cannot sign a professional contract until they turn 17-years-old.
With Nwaneri only being 15 and yet to even leave school, with his GCSE exams scheduled for next year when he will be 16, he is unable to earn a weekly salary whilst in education.
Once he leaves school, though, Nwaneri will be able to sign scholarship forms. A player is able to sign scholarship forms upon leaving education and before they turn 17, which is when they are then able to sign their first professional contract.
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So, is he on a scholarship deal?
Not yet. Until he leaves education, Nwaneri is unable to earn a weekly wage. Once players turn 17, they are offered scholarship forms, and these are often paid in the same amount to each player, no matter their position or quality.
However, Nwaneri is also able to receive money before he turns 17 should he sign sponsorship deals with companies such as Nike or Adidas, for things such as clothing and boots.
Will Nwaneri be offered a contract?
Having made his professional debut at just 15-years-old, it is likely that Nwaneri is already a star of the future and will continue progressing with the first team until he is able to sign a professional contract at 17-years-old.
At a club like Arsenal, his first professional deal could be worth a lot of money, and certainly more than he’d earn elsewhere due to the wealth and size of the Gunners. However, an exact figure on how much he could earn will not be known until then.
It could be similar to that of academy graduate Bukayo Saka, who was on roughly £3,000-per-week after signing his first contract with the Gunners, while Emile Smith Rowe was on a similar figure.
