Arsenal’s decision-makers allowed Harry Kane to slip through their academy net as they believed a future Wolves striker possessed the qualities needed to succeed ahead of the Tottenham legend. Kane, 32, subsequently bagged 280 goals for Spurs and became England’s record goalscorer. His blockbuster £86million switch to Bayern Munich in August 2023 has already seen him find the net an incredible 113 times for the German powerhouse.
However, things might have unfolded very differently had Arsenal bosses not preferred Benik Afobe over Kane, who had joined the Gunners aged just eight. Afobe progressed through Arsenal’s youth system alongside Kane but later went on to feature for Wolves, Arsenal’s Premier League rivals this weekend, in three separate spells.
Afobe, currently plying his trade for Al-Arabi in the UAE at 32, managed 29 goals during his time with the Midlands club. The DR Congo international also turned out for Bournemouth in the top flight but never came remotely close to achieving Kane’s impact on the division.
Kane was considered to lack pace as a youngster and Arsenal simply felt that Afobe represented the superior prospect of the pair, arguing he was more athletic, more clinical in front of goal and stronger in physical duels.
Arsenal perhaps cannot be entirely criticised for their decision to favour Afobe over Kane, though. Afobe had attracted interest from Barcelona before penning his maiden professional contract, such was his encouraging potential.
Injuries significantly hindered Afobe’s progress in north London, ultimately leading to his departure to Wolves in 2014 following multiple loan arrangements.
Kane subsequently revealed that Arsenal’s decision to release him after just one campaign – the club he had supported since childhood – fuelled his determination to reach the pinnacle of football.
« Yeah, probably throughout my whole career, really, » Kane reflected in September 2024. « Starting from when I was eight years old being released from Arsenal. That might have built a bit of desire to prove to them when I was that age. »
Liam Brady, Arsenal’s former academy director and club legend, acknowledged responsibility for the Kane decision, despite not personally making the call himself, stating the « buck stops with him ».
Kane moved to Spurs at age 11 but faced near-dismissal there, too, during his teenage years. His path to success at Tottenham proved arduous, with loan spells at Leyton Orient and Norwich, plus temporary moves to Millwall and Leicester.
Tim Sherwood eventually gave Kane his maiden Premier League start. Nevertheless, it was Mauricio Pochettino who truly believed in his abilities, with Kane’s dramatic 90th-minute strike against Aston Villa in November 2014 reportedly rescuing Pochettino from potential dismissal during a difficult period.
Roy Massey, the highly regarded former Arsenal academy chief, has previously confessed that informing Kane he wasn’t up to standard ranks among the most difficult discussions of his career.
Despite their current success in the league, Arsenal will undoubtedly reflect on their costly mistake with Kane, which had significant implications not only in terms of goals but also for their future finances.
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