“He needs to play men’s football” – Father suggests Arsenal youngster could leave

Arsenal youngster Demiane Agustien is attracting interest from the Eredivisie and is ready to take the next step in his career. 

The 19-year-old was born in the Netherlands, however, he spent his youth career in England. He started at West Bromwich Albion and left them for Derby County in 2023.

Operating mainly in the middle of the pitch or as an attacking midfielder, he managed five goals and 11 assists from 43 matches for Derby County’s U18s. He left them as a free agent to join Arsenal last summer.

Agustien has been part of the Gunners U21s, where he mainly operates as an attacking midfielder. He has four goals from 24 matches and five are from this season.

He represented Curaçao U17s before switching to the Netherlands in 2025. Later that year, he made his debut for the U19s and has made seven appearances so far.

Arsenal youngster compared to ex-Chelsea man 

Demiane Agustien’s father, Kemy, was also a footballer. He represented several clubs, including Birmingham City, Swansea City and Crystal Palace.

He’s been speaking to ESPN, relayed by Ajax1.nl, about his son’s development and plans for the future.

When discussing Demiane’s playing style, he compared him to former Chelsea attacker Hakim Ziyech.

“His left foot is actually extraordinary. You can compare him a bit to Hakim Ziyech: his left foot is really good. You know, when he has the ball on his left foot, he can place it and shoot exactly where he wants it. I think Demiane has a similar quality right now,” he said.

Arteta’s role in development at Arsenal 

The Dutchman hasn’t made his first team debut for the Gunners. However, he has already trained under Mikel Arteta’s orders.

His father talked about the importance of training with the Premier League winners.

“He learns the little things from them, but also the big things. Every touch is good, every pace of the ball is good. And he benefits so much from that,” Kemy Agustien explained.

The youngster is already attracting interest from unnamed Eredivisie sides, and his father believes he’s ready for first team football. His comments suggest it could either be with the Gunners or at another club.

“At some point, he really needs to start playing men’s football. He definitely needs to make a splash this year, develop his game, and then the next step will come naturally,” he added.

On areas of improvement, Agustien Sr said: “He has the qualities to reach the top. For me personally, when you watch him, he needs to believe in himself even more. And he needs to dare to stand up for himself even more.”

Arsenal’s Charles Sagoe Jr has been on loan at Kalmar FF since the start of this year. The 21-year-old said he had to leave the English champions to continue his development.

Demiane Agustien may follow the same path if he doesn’t get opportunities under Arteta in the coming months.