Arsenal youngster Reuell Walters signed his first professional contract with the club this week, after turning 17 in December.

Arsenal confirmed on Tuesday that young defender Reuell Walters has signed a professional contract with the club.

The teenager joined Arsenal as a free agent in 2021, and he’s since gone on to become a starter for the u23s.

Walters started the season in the u18s, but he’s played 90 minutes of every Arsenal Premier League 2 fixture in 2022, helping Kevin Betsy’s u23 side to go unbeaten in the league over those two months so far.

The 17-year-old defender can play at centre-back, which has been useful in recent week in the absence of some of the usual starters.

Primarily, Walters is a right-back, and that’s where he made his England u18 debut in November.

Speaking to the Arsenal website, Walters revealed his delight at the new deal and his long-term hopes for senior opportunities.

“I’m just really grateful for the opportunity I’ve been given,” Walters said. “I just want to make sure that I start to push on and do what I’ve been doing before, but now to a new level.

“My goal is definitely to try and break into the first team, I see myself being at this club long-term, if I push on.”

We’ve seen plenty of young academy talents break into the Arsenal first-team recently, from Emile Smith Rowe to Bukayo Saka, Charlie Patino to Folarin Balogun, among others.

The defenders have had less success so far, but that could be set to change, with Walters one of a few with the potential to eventually make it into the senior side.

For now, he’ll want to continue making his mark with the u23s.