Released at 16, Ben White climbed all four English leagues to Arsenal
Southampton let Ben White go at 16 after eight years in their academy. He then worked his way up through loans in League Two, League One and the Championship before Arsenal paid £50 million for him in 2021, making him the most expensive defender in the club's history.
Born in Poole, Dorset, on 8 October 1997, White was picked up by Brighton after his Southampton release, and made his professional debut for them in a League Cup win over Colchester in 2016. Brighton then sent him out to learn. At Newport County in League Two, manager Michael Flynn called him the best loan signing the club had ever made; White started as Newport knocked out Leeds in the FA Cup and held Tottenham to a draw. A spell at Peterborough in League One followed.
The breakthrough came at Leeds in 2019–20. White played every one of the club's 46 league games as they won the Championship and returned to the Premier League, scoring his only goal for them on the final day, a strike later voted goal of the month. He collected the club's young player award and a place in the division's team of the year. Leeds tried three times to buy him permanently, and Brighton turned down every bid.
Back at Brighton for one Premier League season, he was part of a first league win at Anfield since 1982 and a comeback victory over champions Manchester City. Arsenal then signed him for £50 million in July 2021. Initially a centre-back, he was switched to right-back in 2022–23, scored his first goal for the club that season, and in April 2024 hit his first brace in a 5–0 derby win over Chelsea. He signed a contract running to 2028.
His England story has been stop-start. Called up only as a late replacement for the injured Trent Alexander-Arnold, he went unused at Euro 2020, and he left the 2022 World Cup early for personal reasons. A knee injury in May 2026 ruled him out of the end of Arsenal's season, including the Champions League final, and of the 2026 World Cup.
Source: Ben White (footballer)
