English footballer and attacking midfielder who came through Arsenal's academy and became a key player for club and country in the early 2020s.
Emile Paul Smith Rowe was born in Croydon, England in 2000. Arsenal's Hale End academy produced him — the same academy that produced Bukayo Saka. His 2021-22 breakthrough season at Arsenal produced 10 Premier League goals from attacking midfield — a remarkable return for a player in that position. He was named Arsenal's Player of the Season. He won Arsenal's number 10 shirt — the shirt worn by Dennis Bergkamp and Mesut Özil. He struggled with a serious groin condition in 2022-23 that required surgery and limited his 2023-24 season. Arsenal sold him to Fulham in 2024 in a deal worth up to £34 million. He represented England 6 times. His combination of close dribbling, intelligent movement between the lines and left-footed precision when finishing in tight areas reflected the technical quality of Arsenal's academy system. His groin condition significantly limited what was clearly a career capable of operating at the highest level.
Being Arsenal's youngest ever Premier League goalscorer
How They Played
Creative attacking midfielder with pace and dribbling ability
Lasting Impact
Smith Rowe represents the potential of modern English academy development, demonstrating how young players can break through at top Premier League clubs with patience and proper guidance.
Career Honours
- FA Cup (2020 squad)
- Premier League runner-up
- FA Cup 2020
| Club | Period | Fee | Apps | Goals | Shirt |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Arsenal | 2010–2024 | — | 115 | 18 | #9 |
| Huddersfield Town | 2020–2020 | Loan | 19 | 2 | — |
| RB Leipzig | 2019–2019 | Loan | 3 | 0 | — |
| Fulham | 2024–2024 | £27m | 0 | 0 | — |
 England | — | — | 6 | — | — |