Having taken part in his first training session with us at just five years old, Will has worked his way through the age groups, with all roads leading to him turning professional.

Putting pen to paper at the Sobha Realty Training Centre, the centre-back set his sights on pushing on in 2025/26.

He said: “I joined pre-academy, worked my way through and there's been challenges through the way, through the ranks but I feel like they've only made me stronger, made me a better person, a better player and then all the experiences have gotten me to this point and I'm just happy to be at this football club.

“It's a great opportunity. I feel quite honoured to be at this football club. It's been a long time that I've been at the club so I feel like it's more of a family in the club at this point and I feel really united with the boys and hopefully I can push on this season.”

Will has enjoyed many special moments during his time here, but the opportunity to play at our home, Emirates Stadium, in the FA Youth Cup last season against Manchester United stands above the rest.

He said: “Obviously getting to play at the Emirates for the first time, that was quite a surreal moment for me. I’ve been coming to the Emirates for a long time, watching the first team, so getting to play on the same pitch as them is quite surreal and quite unbelievable, to be honest.

“All the fans, the noise, you can just imagine what it's like when it's fully packed out.”

The teenager had a host of inspirations growing up, including Jack Wilshere, who he had the chance to play under during the former midfielder’s time as our under-18 head coach.

He said: “I think when I was growing up, originally, Jack Wilshere was my inspiration. I remember getting the same boots as him one Christmas and then I ended up getting them signed by Ray Parlour which is a bit ironic.

“But he was my inspiration growing up and I got to play under him for a couple of years which was surreal as well. Then as I progressed through and started to become more of a defender, I looked up to players like Sergio Ramos who, are great on the ball, but they also have the other side to the game which I think people don't speak about enough.”

Will is now looking to the future and has a new set of centre backs he’s looking to replicate in William Saliba and Gabriel.

“I want to hopefully play alongside them one day,” he said. “I want to be where they are so just looking at what they do day in day out, just trying to better them really and hopefully I can be where they are soon.”

Watch the full interview with Will by pressing play on the video above