Malaysia interested in former Arsenal academy player for naturalization after Vietnam defeat

Josh Robinson when he was a player of the Arsenal youth academy. Photo by Arsenal

The latest target is Josh Robinson, a 21-year-old defender whose mother has both Malaysian and English ancestry and his father is Jamaican, according to New Strait Times.

Robinson is a product of the Arsenal youth academy, an environment renowned for developing players with strong technical skills and tactical awareness.

During his time with the London club, the young defender was registered as a reserve player for the Champions League squad in the 2024-2025 season.

Although he did not make a senior appearance in Europe's premier competition, his squad inclusion highlights his potential and development trajectory.

The defender also had the opportunity to train alongside first-team stars like Jorginho, Kai Havertz, and Gabriel Martinelli, helping him gain experience at the highest level of English football, although he has yet to make a breakthrough in his career.

Looking for more regular playing time, Robinson eventually left Arsenal and joined Wigan Athletic in League One, before signing a short-term contract with Kidderminster Harriers, a team currently competing in the sixth tier of English football.

Malaysia's interest in a player like Robinson clearly reflects a strong preference for players with a European academy foundation.

Malaysian football has been expanding their search for mixed players to increase competitiveness within the region.

The campaign was caught in a big controversy recently after the national squad was punished with forfeit losses and lose their place in the 2027 Asian Cup for using seven ineligible naturalized players.