Get to know Jack Porter - a record-breaking keeper | News

Jack Porter has become the youngest-ever player to start an Arsenal first-team game after being named in our line-up for tonight’s Carabao Cup tie against Bolton Wanderers.

The England under-17 international goalkeeper is just 16 years and 72 days old, which sees him overhaul the previous record holder Cesc Fabregas who was 16 years and 177 days old when he started a League Cup game against Rotherham United in October 2003.

Jack becomes the second-youngest player to participate in a first-team match for us, behind only Ethan Nwaneri who broke the Premier League record in September 2022 aged 15 years and 181 days when he appeared as a late substitute against Brentford.

However Jack will now become our youngest starter, and indeed goalkeeper - beating Malcolm Webster who was 18 years and 308 days old when he made the first of six appearances for us in 1969 while deputising for Bob Wilson.

Jack joined the club in 2020 and made four appearances for Jack Wilshere’s academy side in the U18 Premier League last season before signing scholarship terms in the summer. 

He has been capped by England at under-16 level, helping the Young Lions in their Football Federations Cup-winning campaign last season, conceding only one goal over three matches in Spain. He then moved up to the under-17s, making his debut at that level against Germany last month.

Last week saw him named on our first-team bench for the Champions League game against Atalanta last Thursday, having been a part of the travelling squad for the north London derby against Tottenham Hotspur and the Manchester City match on Sunday.