Quick Facts
LibraBiography
Myles Anthony Lewis-Skelly (born 26 September 2006) is an English professional footballer who plays as a midfielder for Premier League club Arsenal.
Club career
Lewis-Skelly joined the academy of Premier League side Arsenal as a child, with American sports website The Athletic stating that he joined at the age of eight, while Arsenal U18 manager Jack Wilshere has been quoted as stating: "he has been at the club since he was nine". He progressed through the academy alongside friend and teammate Ethan Nwaneri, and the pair made their under-18 debut together in a 6–1 win over Reading, with both players scoring.
Lewis-Skelly drew acclaim for his 'explosive inspirational' performances in Arsenal's 2022–23 FA Youth Cup campaign, in which they reached the final before being defeated by West Ham United. In the fifth-round game played on 6 February 2023, he starred in a defensive midfield role as Arsenal beat Watford 4–2, before agreeing a scholarship deal with the club later in the same month, keeping him at Hale End for another two years, during which time he would become eligible for a professional contract.
His performance in the quarter-final win against Cambridge United earned the praise of Jack Wilshere, with the coach stating the Lewis-Skelly was capable of "things you can’t coach". In the semi-final against Manchester City, he scored the winning goal in the final minute of extra time, as Arsenal went on to win 2–1.
On 5 October 2023, Arsenal announce that Myles Lewis-Skelly had signed first professional contract with Arsenal.
International career
Lewis-Skelly’s parents are both British, and his grandparents are of mixed Caribbean heritage (Barbados, Guyana, Jamaica and St Lucia). Lewis-Skelly is eligible to represent both England and Barbados at international level. During his youth career with Arsenal, he trained with the Barbados national football team.
Having represented England at under-16 level, Lewis-Skelly was called up to the under-17 squad for the 2023 UEFA European Under-17 Championship. In England's second game of the tournament, Lewis-Skelly scored after seven minutes in an eventual 4–1 win over the Netherlands; having received the ball on the half-way line, he dribbled past three Dutch players before entering the penalty area and being tackled by Dies Janse. The ball came to English forward Leon Chiwome, whose heavy touch fell into the path of Lewis-Skelly, who slotted the ball under Dutch goalkeeper Kiyani Zeggen to make it 1–0.
On 6 September 2023, Lewis-Skelly made his England U-18 debut during a 2-0 defeat to France in Limoges.
On 2 November 2023, Lewis-Skelly was included in the England squad for the 2023 FIFA U-17 World Cup.
Style of play
Predominantly a central midfielder, capable of playing in both attacking and defensive roles, Lewis-Skelly has also filled in at left-back for Arsenal's under-21 side. Football publication, Goal described him as "excellent with the ball at his feet", with "impressive technique", and "an engine needed to be able to get from box to box". Lewis-Skelly has garnered stylistic comparisons to the likes of Arturo Vidal & Michael Essien, all-action midfielders capable of imposing themselves onto games.
Career statistics
- As of 14 November 2023.
| Club | Season | League | National Cup | League Cup | Other | Total | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Division | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | ||
| Arsenal U21 | 2022–23 | — | — | — | — | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | |||
| 2023–24 | — | — | — | — | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | ||||
| Career total | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 3 | 0 | ||
- Notes
Honours
Arsenal U21
- FA Youth Cup runner-up: 2022–23