Charlie Michael Patiño (Galician: Patiño/Patinho;[3] born 17 October 2003) is an English footballer who plays as a midfielder for Segunda División club Deportivo La Coruña.

Charlie Patiño
Patino playing for England U17 in 2019
Personal information
Full name Charlie Michael Patino[1]
Date of birth (2003-10-17) 17 October 2003 (age 21)
Place of birth Watford, England[2]
Height 1.83 m (6 ft 0 in)[2]
Position(s) Midfielder
Team information
Current team
Deportivo La Coruña
Number 28
Youth career
2010–2011 St Albans City
2011–2015 Luton Town
2015–2021 Arsenal
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2021–2024 Arsenal 0 (0)
2022–2023Blackpool (loan) 37 (2)
2023–2024Swansea City (loan) 33 (3)
2024– Deportivo La Coruña 0 (0)
International career
2018 England U15 5 (0)
2018–2019 England U16 8 (2)
2019 England U17 3 (0)
2021 England U19 1 (0)
2022– England U20 3 (1)
2023– England U21 2 (0)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 17:10, 10 June 2024 (UTC)
‡ National team caps and goals, correct as of 13:17, 21 November 2023 (UTC)

Club career

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Early career

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Born in Watford, Patino started his career at St Albans City, before joining Luton Town at the age of seven.[4][5] At 11 years old he signed for Arsenal in 2015 for a £10,000 fee.[6][7]

Arsenal

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Patino rose quickly through the ranks at Arsenal, featuring for the under-18 side at the age of only 14.[8] He is seen as one of Arsenal's most promising youth prospects, with head of scouting at Arsenal, Sean O’Connor, describing him as the "best player who has ever walked through the doors at Hale End", and Arsenal scout Brian Stapleton calling him "the best kid I've ever seen."[9][10]

He signed his first professional contract with Arsenal in October 2020.[11] In the same month, he was included in The Guardian's "Next Generation" 2020 list, as one of the best young players emerging from Premier League clubs' academies.[12] On 21 December, Patino made his senior debut for Arsenal in a 5–1 EFL Cup quarter-final victory against Sunderland, scoring the final goal of the game at the end of the second-half, shortly after replacing fellow academy graduate Emile Smith Rowe.[13] On 9 January 2022, Patino was a starter in a 1–0 FA Cup third-round loss to Nottingham Forest.[14]

Loan to Blackpool

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On 3 August 2022, Patino signed on loan for Blackpool for the duration of the 2022–23 season.[15] He made his debut on 6 August at Stoke City, replacing Lewis Fiorini in the second half.[16] Three days later, he made his first start on his home debut against Barrow in the EFL Cup first round.[17]

Patino scored his first goal for Blackpool on 17 September in their 2–1 defeat at Millwall.[18] He also scored once and provided an assist for Jerry Yates in the 4–2 win against West Lancashire rivals Preston North End at Bloomfield Road.[19]

Loan to Swansea City

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On 11 August 2023, Swansea City announced they had signed Patino on a season-long loan.[20] He made his debut the following day in a 3–2 defeat at West Bromwich Albion, coming on as a substitute for Harrison Ashby and providing an assist for Harry Darling.[21] A week later, he made his first start and home debut against Coventry City.[22]

He scored his first goal for the club in a 3–0 win against Sheffield Wednesday on 23 September.[23]

Deportivo La Coruña

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On 26 August 2024, Deportivo La Coruña announced they had signed Patino on a four-year contract.[24][25]

International career

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Patino has represented England at under-15, under-16 and under-17 level.[2] He remains eligible for Spain through his father holding a Spanish passport, and the Spanish FA have reportedly made attempts to get him to switch allegiance.[5][26]

On 9 October 2021, Patino made his debut for the England U19s during a 3–1 victory against Mexico in Marbella.[27]

On 21 September 2022, Patino made his England U20 debut as a substitute during a 3–0 victory over Chile at the Pinatar Arena.[28]

On 11 September 2023, Patino made his England U21 debut as a substitute during a 3–0 2025 UEFA European Under-21 Championship qualification win away to Luxembourg.[29]

Style of play

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A ball-playing midfielder, Patino has stated that former Arsenal players Santi Cazorla and Cesc Fàbregas are influences in his style of play.[4][5] Through his youth career, he was dubbed 'the next Frenkie De Jong' by fans, as his playstyle was seen as 'eerily close' to the former-Ajax midfielder.[30][31]

Media

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Patino was involved in the Amazon Original sports docuseries All or Nothing: Arsenal, which documented the club by spending time with the coaching staff and players behind the scenes both on and off the field throughout their 2021–22 season.[32][33]

Patino also appeared on Series 1 of the docuseries Inside Hale End, which documented Arsenal's academy set-up and gave an exclusive view into the Hale End campus, featuring interviews with players and coaching staff.[34][35]

Career statistics

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Club

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As of match played 4 May 2023
Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
Club Season League FA Cup EFL Cup Europe Other Total
Division Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals
Arsenal U21 2021–22[36] 3[a] 0 3 0
Arsenal 2021–22[36] Premier League 0 0 1 0 1 1 0 0 2 1
Blackpool (loan) 2022–23 Championship 34 2 2 1 1 0 0 0 37 3
Swansea (loan) 2023–24 Championship 33 3 2 1 0 0 0 0 35 4
Career total 67 5 5 2 2 1 0 0 3 0 77 8
  1. ^ Appearances in EFL Trophy

References

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  1. ^ "Premier League clubs publish 2020/21 retained lists". premierleague.com. 4 June 2021. Retrieved 1 October 2021.
  2. ^ a b c Charlie Patino at WorldFootball.net
  3. ^ Hernández, Jorge García; Fuentenebro, Pablo M. (22 December 2021). "Is Charlie Patiño eligible to play for Spain and England?". Diario AS.
  4. ^ a b Small, Aidan (17 June 2021). "Young Gun: Charlie Patino". arsenal.com. Retrieved 1 October 2021.
  5. ^ a b c Spencer, Phil (22 September 2021). "Who is Charlie Patino? The Arsenal wonderkid who could start against AFC Wimbledon in Carabao Cup following interest from Spanish giants Barcelona". talksport.com. Retrieved 1 October 2021.
  6. ^ "Arsenal win the race to sign 11-year-old wonderkid Charlie Patino". The Guardian. 15 May 2015. Retrieved 1 October 2021.
  7. ^ "Charlie Patino: Arsenal's teenage wonderkid scores on debut". BBC Sport. 21 December 2021. Retrieved 22 December 2021.
  8. ^ "Chelsea U18 2–2 Arsenal U18". arsenal.com. 9 May 2018. Retrieved 1 October 2021.
  9. ^ Watts, Charles (2 August 2021). "Charlie Patino: Could Arsenal wonderkid be Hale End's best-ever graduate?". goal.com. Retrieved 1 October 2021.
  10. ^ McLoughlin, Ciarán (16 September 2021). "Charlie Patino: The next Arsenal youngster tipped to break into Mikel Arteta's first team". vavel.com. Retrieved 1 October 2021.
  11. ^ Simmonds, Mike (22 October 2020). "Ex-Hatters youngster Charlie Patino signs a first pro deal with Arsenal". lutontoday.co.uk. Retrieved 1 October 2021.
  12. ^ Christenson, Marcus; Powell, Jim; Blight, Garry (7 October 2020). "Next Generation 2020: 20 of the best talents at Premier League clubs". The Guardian. Retrieved 1 October 2021.
  13. ^ Dean, Sam (21 December 2021). "Meet Charlie Patino: The 18-year-old Arsenal wonderkid who made his debut against Sunderland". The Telegraph. Retrieved 21 December 2021.
  14. ^ "Match report: Nottingham Forest 1-0 Arsenal". www.arsenal.com. 9 January 2022. Retrieved 10 January 2022.
  15. ^ FC, Blackpool. "Seasiders Secure Loan Signing of Charlie Patino From Arsenal". Blackpool FC. Retrieved 3 August 2022.
  16. ^ "Stoke ease to win over Blackpool". BBC Sport. 6 August 2022. Retrieved 29 April 2023.
  17. ^ "League Two Barrow knock Blackpool out on penalties". BBC Sport. 9 August 2022. Retrieved 29 April 2023.
  18. ^ "Afobe winner sees Millwall beat Blackpool". BBC Sport. 17 September 2022. Retrieved 29 April 2023.
  19. ^ "Blackpool beat Preston in pulsating derby". BBC Sport. 22 October 2022. Retrieved 29 April 2023.
  20. ^ "Charlie Patino joins Swansea City on season-long loan | Swansea". Swansea City F.C. Retrieved 11 August 2023.
  21. ^ Vincent, Gareth (12 August 2023). "West Brom hold off Swansea to claim first win". BBC Sport. Retrieved 23 September 2023.
  22. ^ "Swansea 1–1 Coventry". Swansea City F.C. 19 August 2023. Retrieved 23 September 2023.
  23. ^ Vincent, Gareth (23 September 2023). "Duff gets first Swans victory against winless Owls". BBC Sport. Retrieved 23 September 2023.
  24. ^ "Charlie Patino joins Deportivo de La Coruna". Arsenal F.C. 26 August 2024. Retrieved 26 August 2024.
  25. ^ "El Dépor firma al centrocampista Charlie Patiño hasta 2028". Deportivo La Coruña (in Spanish). 26 August 2024. Retrieved 26 August 2024.
  26. ^ Spencer, Jamie (21 September 2021). "England & Spain battle for international allegiance of Arsenal's Charlie Patino". 90min.com. Retrieved 1 October 2021.
  27. ^ Smith, Frank (9 October 2021). "Substitutes make their mark as England MU19s beat Mexico 3-1". EnglandFootball.com. Retrieved 10 October 2021.
  28. ^ Crane, Liam (21 September 2022). "Report: England MU20s 3-0 Chile". EnglandFootball.com. Retrieved 25 September 2022.
  29. ^ Dickson Jefford, Oli (11 September 2023). "Report: Luxembourg 0-3 England MU21s". EnglandFootball.com. Retrieved 11 September 2023.
  30. ^ Here's Why Charlie Patino Is So Highly Rated | Next Frenkie De Jong | Tactical Analysis - Comparison, 16 September 2021, retrieved 10 December 2022
  31. ^ GunnerTown. "YOUTH SERIES: Charlie Patino—the Next Frenkie De Jong?". Twitter. Retrieved 10 December 2022.
  32. ^ "Full 'All Or Nothing' trailer released". Arsenal F.C. 19 July 2022. Retrieved 21 July 2022.
  33. ^ All or Nothing: Arsenal | Official Full Trailer 🎬. Amazon Prime Video Sport. 19 July 2022. Retrieved 21 July 2022 – via YouTube.
  34. ^ "Whole series of 'Inside Hale End' available now". Whole series of 'Inside Hale End' available now. Retrieved 10 December 2022.
  35. ^ INSIDE HALE END | Episode 6 | Graduation Day, 21 September 2022, retrieved 10 December 2022
  36. ^ a b "Games played by Charlie Patino in 2021/2022". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 9 January 2022.