Louis put pen to paper at the Sobha Realty Training Centre having joined us in December 2020.

With Myles Lewis-Skelly and Ethan Nwaneri the latest in a long line of graduates to star in our first team, Louis is using their stories as fuel to inspire his pathway to success.

“They're only a few years above me and just looking at the steps they took, Myles wasn't necessarily a left-back, but taking the opportunity as a left-back.

“Now they’re starting for Arsenal. I think Ethan and Myles are huge inspirations to hopefully follow their tracks to the first-team.”

Louis’ journey began five years ago when a chance meeting with Head of Academy Per Mertesacker led to a trial with us.

“I was a bit lucky,” the winger said. “I went to school with Per’s kids. I usually just played football on the field for my school team.

“One day my mum, and Per, saw me playing quite well on the field. He took it upon himself to message my mum about the whole system, and the whole trialling and all that stuff. I was quite lucky, but I'm grateful.

“Now I've got the opportunity to not only showcase my talent, but also show my family how much hard work I've put in, which they don't usually see in the training sessions, more so in the matches.”

An exciting dribbler with an eye for a goal, Louis chipped in with seven goals and seven assists in 2024/25 for the under-18s side.

Speaking about his style of play, the Serbia under-17 international offered us an insight of his hopes and aspirations for 2025/26.

He said: “I want to set a very strict 20 goal involvement this season, which me and my dad discussed because we're quite competitive on our goals. But I'll say the 20 goals and assists is a must for this season and just overall consistent performances.

“I'd say the best word [to describe my style] is unpredictable. You never know what I'm going to do on the ball, off the ball. I’m hard-working, committed for my team, for my career. Everything that I love.”