Ex-Arsenal youth player Christian Toonga has been jailed for his part in a heroin and cocaine dealing operation.

Toonga, 19, played for the Arsenal academy between 2005 and 2013. Having spent eight years at the club, he left as a 16-year-old and spent short periods with Southampton and Cardiff City’s youth sides, before making his first senior appearance for AFC Wimbledon.

Toonga left the club in March 2016, but before he left he became involved with an operation where gangs set up shop in the homes of vulnerable individuals, according to The Sun. Police raided the home where he was found with three wraps of cocaine, 29 wraps of heroin, £700 and the mobile phone that confirmed his involvement.

The ex-Arsenal academy player claimed he had no choice and was forced into it, but prosecutor Tom Edwards said Toonga was fully aware of what was going on and he helped to manage the operation to make himself money.

Toonga admitted the charges of possessing with intent to supply class A drugs and failing to surrender to police after he was bailed. He’s been jailed for two and a half years.