Arsenal Send Youngster Will Sweet on Loan to Dagenham & Redbridge

Arsenal have confirmed that teenage midfielder Will Sweet has joined Dagenham & Redbridge on loan until February 26, as the club continues to prioritize the development of its young talents.

The Gunners announced the move on Saturday via an official statement on their website, just hours before their Premier League clash against Leeds United at the Emirates Stadium.

Sweet, who joined Arsenal’s academy in May 2015, has risen steadily through the ranks and signed his first professional contract in July 2025. The 19-year-old is now set for his first taste of senior football, linking up with the National League South side for the remainder of the short-term loan.

The youngster has already joined his new teammates and is expected to be in contention when Dagenham & Redbridge face Farnborough later on Saturday.

“We wish Will Sweet all the best for his loan spell and look forward to seeing his continued development,” Arsenal said in their statement.

Opinion: A Smart Step in Arsenal’s Youth Pathway

This move feels like a well-timed and well-thought-out decision by Arsenal. For academy players like Will Sweet, regular first-team football often matters more than age-group dominance, and a loan to a competitive non-league side offers exactly that.

Dagenham & Redbridge’s physical, high-intensity environment should test Sweet’s adaptability, decision-making, and resilience — qualities that cannot be fully developed in youth football alone. If he embraces the challenge, this short loan spell could prove pivotal in shaping his readiness for higher levels.

For Arsenal, it’s another example of a club that understands that talent must be exposed, not sheltered. And for Sweet, it’s a golden opportunity to turn promise into progress — one senior appearance at a time.