Arsenal’s 19-Year-Old Keeper Alexei Rojas Earns Rare Honor and Is Making an Impact Off the Pitch with His Impressive Work

ALEXEI ROJAS is already making a significant impact off the field thanks to his commitment to environmental issues.

Now, the 19-year-old goalkeeper for Arsenal, who has advocated for the Premier League to incorporate sustainability education across all clubs, aspires to be the next standout player from the club’s Hale End academy.

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Born in England to a Colombian father and a Russian mother, Rojas is now training full-time with Arteta’s first team and participated in the club’s pre-season tour in Asia.

Recently, he received a call-up from Colombia to compete in the FIFA Under-20 World Cup in Chile, which kicks off next month.

Rojas’ father, Fernando, grew up in Bogota but moved from Colombia at 21, later marrying Yulia.

The duo settled near St Albans to raise a family, and Alexei played for local teams, including London Colney Colts, located where the first team trains.

A Chelsea supporter in his youth, Rojas idolized Petr Cech and was part of the Blues’ development squad before making the switch to Arsenal.

Other players he has closely studied are Marc-Andre Ter Stegen and Jordan Pickford.

While eligible to represent three nations, Rojas has always identified with Colombia and was determined to play for his father’s homeland.

His first call-up came in December 2020 for the under-17 team, and he has remained with the youth setup ever since.

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In October 2021, at just 16 years old, Rojas had his first opportunity to train with Arsenal’s first team.

It’s uncommon for a young keeper to practice with the first team at such an early age due to physical considerations.

However, Rojas continued to excel and has been a consistent presence with the first team since the beginning of last season.

He is currently training alongside David Raya and new second-choice keeper Kepa Arrizabalaga.

Last season, Rojas was included in the matchday squad for several Premier League games before embarking on a summer tour, which featured an inaugural match against Spurs outside England, in a friendly match held in Hong Kong.

There was a consideration for Rojas to be loaned out to a League Two or League One club for experience this season, but Arteta prefers him to remain within the first-team setup.

As of now, Rojas is gearing up for the Under-20 World Cup in Chile, where his aim is to be recognized as the top keeper of the tournament.

The opening game is against Saudi Arabia on September 30.

Upon his return in October, he intends to impress at Arsenal while furthering his commendable efforts off the pitch.

He has a keen interest in sustainability, influenced by his mother, who works in the renewable energy sector.

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Arsenal seem to have a remarkable individual who shows maturity beyond his years.

SunSport’s Charlie Wyett on Alexei Rojas

Rojas has called for Arsenal to eliminate single-use plastic water bottles from their facilities and to enhance educational initiatives for players of all ages regarding sustainability.

He also advocates for clubs to be more judicious about their energy consumption.

Rojas has informed the Premier League that they need to do more in raising awareness, especially among younger players.

As an ambassador for Common Goal, he connects football with social change.

The 6ft 1in keeper has also supported Green Football Weekend, which encourages fans to adopt more sustainable practices and consider vegetarian options.

Additonally, he is an ambassador for Charity Boots, an organization that collects used boots to redistribute to children in need globally.

Ultimately, Rojas aims to achieve recognition for his footballing abilities and to establish himself as one of the Premier League’s elite keepers.

Even as a teenager, Arsenal appears to have an outstanding individual on their hands, exhibiting remarkable maturity at such a young age.