Arsenal youngster once made $11,000 in one night from Fortnite but gave it up to pursue football career

Most schoolboys dream of becoming a footballer, but few could imagine Arsenal youngster Reuell Walters' journey to the top.

Walters started his career at Tottenham Hotspur, joining the club at the age of 11. However, the defender and his family decided he would be better suited elsewhere.

Walter's father, Raphael, informed the club that he would be leaving at the end of the season, much to Spurs' disappointment, who attempted to persuade Walters to stay put.

In an interview with The Athletic, Raphael explained a meeting he had with the club in which they outlined Walters' future in north London.

"We had a great meeting," Raphael said. "We went through all of the points. They were like 'Look, we see Reu going all the way here. Getting the next two years, getting a scholar, getting his pro, we actually see him as a first-team player'."

However, Walters and his family refused to budge, and Manchester United then came knocking.

After careful consideration, Walters signed a contract and he was soon enrolled into the Red Devils' academy, where he rediscovered his love for the game.

But his time up north was short lived, when his career took an unexpected turn in 2019.

After Walters' trial contract came to an end, he had agreed to play above his age group. Although the Premier League declined his registration.

With all 20 spots taken in his original age group, Walters found himself without a club once more.

Then came Covid, and with no contract in sight, Walters decided to try his hand at something new.

Walters' Fortnite fortune

With all academy centres closed, and little idea of what was ahead of him, Walters swapped football pitches for video games and stumbled upon a wad of cash.

In November 2019, Walters, then 15, received an email from EpicGames, the creators of video Fortnite, explaining he had made $20 after building a map called RJW’s BoxPVP.

Fortnite maps are different locations which can be made for all players to use in the game.

"He said 'I just made $20 for my map,' Walters' father explained. "People are in my map and when they buy stuff with their V-Bucks, I get a commission, so I made $20'."

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As Walters' map gained attention, the teenager was asked for his bank details - a request which was quickly denied by parents Raphael and Aishia, who were afraid it might be a scam.

But just a week later, payment after payment came into his account.

The family set up a PayPal account and by December, 250 million people around the world had played it in one week. In just one night, Walters made $11,000 (£8,844).

But with football still at the forefront of his mind, he bid goodbye to Fortnite and returned to the pitch.

After attending one-on-one training with former Manchester United academy coach Saul Isaksson-Hurst, Arsenal emerged as a possible destination.

Walters' eyes lit up, being a boyhood fan of the Gunners, and he was invited to train with the squad.

In November 2020, Walters signed for Arsenal's under-16's, and was later rewarded with his first professional contract.

He has since been called up by Mikel Arteta to the first team, and was an unused substitute in Arsenal's last three games, acting as understudy to the injured William Saliba.

While he certainly looks set for a bright future in football, Walters always has Fortnite to fall back on should it not work out.