Arsenal snubbed Harry Kane for two players and one has already quit football completely

Arsenal released Harry Kane at age eight after academy staff preferred fellow young strikers Benik Afobe and Chuks Aneke. Former youth coach Dan Buck recalled that Afobe and Aneke regularly outscored Kane at under-nine level. Kane later joined Tottenham Hotspur at age 11, eventually moving to Bayern Munich where he has scored 155 goals across 157 matches ahead of a Champions League tie against Arsenal.

Neither player matched Kane's career heights, though both carved out professional paths. Afobe left Arsenal permanently in 2015, playing for Wolves, Bournemouth, and Stoke City before moving to UAE club Gulf United FC. Aneke made one competitive Arsenal appearance, became a fan favorite at Charlton Athletic, and recently retired following a stint at Shrewsbury Town.