Antonio Arena

Antonio Arena

Personal information
Full name	Antonio Arena
Date of birth	(2009-02-10) 10 February 2009 (age 16)
Place of birth	Sydney, Australia [1]
Height	1.88 m (6 ft 2 in)
Position	Striker
Team information
Current team	Roma
Number	68
Youth career
	M&U Football Academy
	Western Sydney Wanderers
2022–2025	Pescara
2025–	Roma
Senior career*
Years	Team	Apps	(Gls)
2024–2025	Pescara	4	(1)
2025–	Roma	1	(1)
International career‡
2024	Australia U16	1	(0)
2025–	Italy U16	2	(1)
2025–	Italy U17	4	(3)
Medal record Men's football Representing   Italy FIFA U-17 World Cup 2025 Qatar
* Club domestic league appearances and goals as of 13 January 2026 ‡ National team caps and goals as of 20 May 2025

Antonio Arena (born 10 February 2009) is a professional footballer who plays as a striker for Serie A club Roma. Born in Australia, he has represented both Australia and Italy at youth international level. He attended Endeavour Sports High School in Sydney, Australia.

Career

Arena is a youth product of the Australians clubs M&U Football Academy and Western Sydney Wanderers, before moving to Pescara in 2022 to finish his development. ^[2] On 15 February 2025, he signed his first professional contract until 2028. ^[3] He made his senior and professional debut with Pescara in a 4–1 Serie C win over Lucchese, and scored his side's fourth goal. At 16 years and 25 days old, he became the first 2009-born player to score in professional football in Italy, and also the youngest ever goalscorer for Pescara, beating the record of Marco Verratti. ^[4]

On 23 July 2025, Arena signed for Serie A club Roma. ^[5]

On 13 January 2026, Arena made his first-team debut for Roma in the round of 16 of the Coppa Italia, in a 3–2 defeat against Torino, scoring his first goal for the club with his first touch of the ball. ^[6]

International career

Born in Australia, Arena is of Italian descent through his grandparents from Taurianova. ^[7] He holds dual Australian-Italian citizenship. ^[4] He debuted with the Australia U16s in a friendly 4–3 win over the Switzerland U16s on 16 April 2024. ^[8] In January 2025, he was called up to the Italy U16s for a set of friendlies. ^[2]

Career statistics

Club

As of match played 13 January 2026 ^[9]

Appearances and goals by club, season and competition

Club	Season	League			National cup [a]		Europe		Other		Total
		Division	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals
Pescara	2024–25	Serie C	4	1	0	0	—		1 [b]	0	5	1
Roma	2025–26	Serie A	0	0	1	1	0	0	—		1	1
Career total			4	1	1	1	0	0	1	0	6	2

1. Includes Coppa Italia
2. Appearance in Serie C promotion play-offs

Honours

Italy U17

• FIFA U-17 World Cup third place: 2025 ^[10]

References

1. "L'Entella vola a +7. Pescara, 4-1 alla Lucchese: esordio e gol per il 2009 Antonio Arena e a luglio arriva il salto di qualità trasferendosi alla Roma per 1 milione". La Gazzetta dello Sport.
2. "Pescara Calcio, in rampa di lancio c'è il 16enne Antonio Arena". IlPescara.
3. "Pescara, il giovane Antonio Arena ha firmato il suo primo contratto da professionista - TUTTO mercato WEB". www.tuttomercatoweb.com.
4. https://www.eurosport.it/calcio/serie-c-girone-b/2024-2025/antonio-arena-da-record-a-16-anni-e-il-primo-2009-a-segnare-tra-i-professionisti-nel-4-1-del-pescara-alla-lucchese_sto20134561/story.shtml
5. "Roma, ecco il giovane Antonio Arena: il classe 2009 arriva dal Pescara" (in Italian). Tuttomercatoweb. 23 July 2025. Retrieved 23 July 2025.
6. "Australian 16-year-old Antonio Arena scores on debut for Italian giants Roma". The Guardian. 14 January 2026. Retrieved 14 January 2026.
7. "Antonio Arena, il centravanti dei record cresciuto a Sydney: "Onorato di giocare per l'Italia" - FIGC". www.figc.it.
8. "Subway Joeys seal 4-3 friendly win over Switzerland U-16 | Socceroos". www.socceroos.com.au. 11 April 2024.
9. "Antonio Arena". Soccerway.com. 14 January 2026.
10. "Longoni saves bag Italy bronze". fifa.com. 27 November 2025. Retrieved 28 November 2025.

External links

• Antonio Arena at Soccerway
• Tuttocalciatori Profile