English footballer (born 2003)
Charlie Michael Patino (Galician: Patiño;[3] born 17 October 2003) is an English footballer who plays as a midfielder for EFL Championship club Swansea City, on loan from Premier League club Arsenal.
Club career
Early career
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
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
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
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]
International career
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][24]
On 9 October 2021, Patino made his debut for the England U19s during a 3–1 victory against Mexico in Marbella.[25]
On 21 September 2022, Patino made his England U20 debut as a substitute during a 3–0 victory over Chile at the Pinatar Arena.[26]
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.[27]
Style of play
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.[28][29]
