03/09/2026
Arsenal looked at an eight-year-old boy and decided he wasn't good enough. That boy became England's greatest goalscorer. ⚽
This is Harry Kane.
In 2001, Kane joined Arsenal's Hale End academy. He lasted one season.
Years later, Arsenal's academy director Liam Brady explained exactly why they let him go. His words: "He was a bit chubby, he wasn't very athletic — but we made a mistake."
Chubby. That was the reason.
A former teammate later said something else. At that age group, the club were focused on developing a different striker Benik Afobe. Kane wasn't the priority.
So Arsenal released him. Eight years old.
Here's what Kane said about it: "It might sound ridiculous. I was only eight when they let me go, but every time we played them, I thought alright, we'll see who's right and who's wrong."
And then he said this: "Looking back, being released by Arsenal was probably the best thing that ever happened to me. It gave me a drive that wasn't there before."
He joined Tottenham. Arsenal's biggest rivals.
Even then, nobody was convinced. Tottenham loaned him out to lower-division clubs three or four times. He kept scoring. He kept coming back.
He became Tottenham's all-time leading goalscorer. Then England's all-time leading goalscorer. Two Premier League Golden Boots. A World Cup Golden Boot.
And Brady? He later said this about the boy his club released: "After Messi, Ronaldo and Lewandowski, there is him."
One decision. One eight-year-old. One word "chubby".
👇 Which player did your club let go? Tell me below.
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