Who is Marli Salmon? The wonderkid included in Arsenal’s squad vs Aston Villa | Football London
The Teenager has been named on the bench for Arsenal’s Premier League clash against Aston Villa
Young Arsenal defender Marli Salmon has been named on Arsenal’s bench for the Premier League clash against Aston Villa (Image: David Price/Arsenal FC via Getty Images)
What you need to know about Marli Salmon, who has been included in the Arsenal squad vs Aston Villa:
- Emerging academy talent: Marli Salmon is a highly-rated young defender in the Arsenal academy, primarily playing as a centre-back but also capable of filling in at right-back. He is known for being a gifted, ball-playing central defender who combines a love of defending with confidence in possession.
- Young age and rapid progression: Born on August 29, 2009, he is currently 16 years old, making him one of the youngest talents in the club’s youth setup. His rise has been rapid, with him progressing steadily after joining Arsenal at the Under-11 level in May 2019.
- First-team exposure Despite his young age, Salmon has already gained significant experience with the senior squad. At just 15 years old, he was called up for the first-team pre-season tour to Singapore and Hong Kong in July 2025, where he made his debut against AC Milan and Newcastle.
- Current club involvement He has cemented his place in the Arsenal Under-21 squad and has also featured prominently for the Under-19s in the UEFA Youth League, even captaining the latter team on occasion. His experience spans different age groups, from the U18s to the U21s, where he has consistently impressed.
- International representation Salmon is a current youth international for England, having played for the England U17 squad. He made his debut for the England U17s in October 2025 as part of the UEFA European Under-17 Championship qualification matches.
- Personal background and inspiration He grew up in Woodford, UK, with football being a strong family presence, as his father and brother played at semi-professional level. Salmon is of Jamaican descent on his father’s side and Mauritian descent on his mother’s side, and he has cited first-team defender William Saliba as an inspiration for his game.
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