Ex-Arsenal keeper Smith earns first-class economics degree

Tom Smith, a former Arsenal academy goalkeeper who spent 14 years at the club, has combined a professional football career with academic study to graduate with a first-class honours degree in economics.

Smith, now 24 and playing in League Two with Colchester United, received a Premier League Academy Alumni award in 2024 in recognition of his educational achievements — collecting the prize at Wembley in 2025.

"I was actually at my graduation ceremony, in my gown, finding out I'd won it," Smith said. "I remember calling [Head of Education] Matt Henley, asking if he knew about it — and Matt, Per and the Arsenal staff all knew, which was really cool."

Smith came through the Arsenal academy alongside Bukayo Saka, Folarin Balogun, Tyreece John-Jules and Mark McGuinness. Their under-18 side reached the 2018 Youth Cup final and won the Premier League South title the following year.

His mother made education a condition of his football commitments from the start. "My mum was adamant I couldn't sign my scholarship without the club supporting me with my A-Levels; the same for my university degree when I signed as a professional," Smith said. "The club said 'no problem'."

Smith departed Arsenal in 2023 after loan spells at Bromley, Dover, Welling and Colchester, where he subsequently signed a permanent deal. He is now into his fourth season at the League Two club, which is managed by brothers Danny and Nicky Cowley.

"I left in 2023, and it was done on very good terms. It was sad — I'd spent 14 years on the books of Arsenal — but I felt prepared," Smith said.

Reflecting on the step down to senior non-league and EFL football, Smith described it as a significant adjustment. "Even after four or five loans and a chunk of non-league games, nothing quite prepares you for the realities of the EFL like experiencing it yourself," he said.

Smith also recalled a lighthearted academic rivalry with Saka during their scholarship years. "There was a little bit of competition between the two of us about who was smarter, and to this day, the worst day of our relationship was when he got better GCSEs than me," he said.