Arsenal’s Reuell Walters is a promising 18-year-old full-back who has caught the eye of Mikel Arteta and his coaching staff. Walters was previously on the books at Manchester United and Tottenham, but was let go by both clubs. Despite this setback, he has made a significant contribution to the popular video game Fortnite, earning over £8,000 for a map he created.
Walters’ football journey began at Tottenham, where he played with older age groups after impressing in the Under-11s side. However, his time at Spurs came to an end when the club chose not to renew his contract. He then joined Manchester United’s youth ranks, where he flourished as a junior Red Devil. The club wanted to retain his services by offering him a schoolboy contract, but the Premier League rejected their attempts to register him after they had already met their quota for schoolboys.
With football on the back burner, Walters turned to playing Fortnite, like many kids his age. In November 2019, he received an email from the game’s creators informing him that he had made £16 for his RJW’s BoxPVP map. This led to him pocketing a cool £8,860 ($11,000) as 250 million people downloaded his map.
Despite his success in the gaming world, Walters’ parents did not let it get in the way of their son’s dream of playing professional football. They got him one-on-one coaching with trainer Saul Isaksson-Hurst, who eventually convinced Arsenal’s head of talent ID, Lee Herron, to take a look at the teen. After impressing the Gunners’ youth coaches with a string of solid displays, Walters signed an Under-16s deal with the club.
Walters’ parents were cautious about making a commitment to a club that did not believe in him. They wanted Arsenal to offer him a professional contract because they believed in him, not because they negotiated it. The club eventually offered Walters a professional contract in 2022, and he has not looked back since.
Walters is now the understudy of England and Japan internationals Ben White and Takehiro Tomiyasu. He has featured regularly in Arsenal’s matchday squads this season and is on the brink of making his first-team debut. His journey from being cast aside by Manchester United and Tottenham to becoming a promising talent at Arsenal is a testament to his resilience and determination.