Our Young Gun series gets to know the academy youngsters kicking off their careers at Sobha Realty Training Centre.
Alexei Rojas-Fedorushchenko spoke to us recently, and here’s what he had to say about signing his first professional contract, travelling with the Arsenal first team and representing Colombia on the international stage.
Signing my first professional contract last summer was a dream come true – something I had worked towards since childhood. To be able to call myself a professional footballer, to have it as my full-time job, and to play the game every day is exactly what I always envisioned. It was a hugely proud moment for both myself and my family, who have dedicated so much time to helping me reach this point. But most importantly, it was just the first step in my professional career. It gave me even more motivation to keep working hard, knowing I’m on the right path to becoming the best goalkeeper I can be.
A few weeks after my contract was announced, I had the incredible opportunity to travel with the first team on their summer tour to the USA. I had hoped I might be selected, given that some first-team players were away for the Copa America and the Euros, freeing up spots for academy call-ups. From a logistical perspective, travelling with the first team is a completely different experience compared to the academy. Everything is meticulously organised so that, as players, our sole focus is on football.
While on tour, I learnt a lot about myself – both personally and professionally. Being around the first-team players and staff helped me become more accustomed to that environment, and it has only made me more determined to be part of it in the future.
Alexei Rojas celebrates
The best part of the tour was the matches – playing in front of packed stadiums and seeing first-hand just how much Arsenal means to fans worldwide. It really makes you appreciate the size of the club and the responsibility that comes with representing it. It also gave me the chance to explore a new part of the world, as I had never been to the West Coast of the United States before. A funny moment was when a group of us academy players had to do an initiation. I sang La Piragua, a Colombian song my dad used to sing to me when I was little. Some of the comments afterwards were that it was one of the best performances they had ever seen in a football environment!
Representing Colombia is a huge honour, and one of the most unforgettable moments of my life was stepping onto the pitch and singing the national anthem – it gave me goosebumps. Playing in the 2025 South American U-20 Championship was an incredible experience. We finished third and qualified for the World Cup, so overall, it was a positive tournament. One of the standout moments for me was playing in the 1-0 win against Brazil. I had prepared so well for that game, and at the final whistle, I was overcome with emotion – I was in tears of joy because of how much work I had put in leading up to it.
“Raya is one of the best keepers in the world, Neto brings a wealth of experience.”
As a goalkeeper, patience is everything. Only one of us can play at any given time, so you always have to be ready to take your opportunity. I’ve been fortunate to train with the first team every day since pre-season, and that’s helped me develop massively – both as a goalkeeper and as a person. I know for a fact that I wouldn’t be at my current level without that experience. Training alongside top keepers like David Raya and Neto has been invaluable. David, in my opinion, is one of the best goalkeepers in the world – his work ethic, intelligence, and consistency are at the highest level. Neto, on the other hand, brings a wealth of experience, and I’ve learnt a great deal from him as well.
For the rest of the season, my goal is simply to maximise every training session and be as prepared as possible if the opportunity to play arises.
Beyond football, I’m passionate about sustainability, especially in the small, everyday actions that make a difference. One of the things I’m working on is reusing old kit – either wearing it again or passing it on to someone who needs it rather than letting it go to waste. Not only is that better for the environment, but it also helps others financially. It’s all about making small, mindful decisions – whether it’s recycling, reducing single-use plastics, or finding ways to be more sustainable. We all need to think long-term and play our part in protecting the planet for future generat
ions.
Rojas Colombia
