From Aylesbury Estate to Arsenal: The Reiss Nelson Story

You may know Reiss Nelson as a dedicated Arsenal player, someone who has patiently waited for his moments to shine in the iconic red and white jersey. But there’s much more to his story—one that often escapes the attention of football fans.

Reiss Nelson’s early life was marked by a challenging upbringing in London. He was raised by his parents alongside his older brother in the well-known Aylesbury Estate, a place far removed from the gleaming financial centres that define much of London’s skyline. Understanding the risks of gangs and knife crime, Reiss’s parents made a crucial decision to send him to the London Nautical School near Waterloo, hoping to steer him clear of trouble.

For Reiss, school was important, but nothing compared to football, especially when he played with his best friend, Jadon Sancho. On the concrete football courts of London, Reiss and Jadon honed their skills, spending countless hours perfecting their game. Their dedication paid off when they were invited to participate in the London Southwark Kids Competition. Together, Reiss Nelson and Jadon Sancho led their team to victory, laying the groundwork for their future success in football.

This is just the beginning of Reiss Nelson’s story. Let’s dive deeper into the life of the young footballer and uncover the journey that shaped him into the player he is today.

Preamble:

Our biography of Reiss Nelson provides insights into his childhood, early life, parents (a Zimbabwean father and an English mother), family background, and personality. In essence, we share the story of Reiss Nelson, a talented footballer often simply known as “Reiss.” We start with his early days and follow his journey all the way to his rise to fame in the world of football. To give you a glimpse of the captivating content in Reiss Nelson’s biography, here’s a pictorial overview of his life.

Reiss Nelson Childhood Story – Early Life and Family Background:

To begin with, his full name is Reiss Luke Nelson. He was born on December 10, 1999, to a Zimbabwean father and an English mother in Elephant and Castle, a neighbourhood in Central London. Reiss Nelson didn’t come from a wealthy family, and unlike other kids, his parents couldn’t buy him the latest toys except for a football.

He grew up with his big brother and parents in Aylesbury Estate. This vast estate, shown in the picture below, is a stark contrast to the bustling financial districts that dominate London’s skyline.

Reiss Nelson Childhood Story – Education and Career Buildup:

In order to avoid the pitfalls of gangs and knife crime, Reiss’ parents decided to send their son to the London Nautical School near Waterloo.

Early on, there was never much doubt that Nelson was heading in the right direction.

He was an intelligent boy who could multi-task with both academics and playing football after school hours.

As far as after-school activities were concerned, Reiss wasn’t complete without having his best friend play football with him.

That best friend was no other person than Jadon Sancho– Oh Yes, you heard that!

Man United Star, Sancho, whose parents lived at the Guinness Trust Buildings near Kennington Park, has been Reiss’ best friend since their childhood days.

Did you know?… It was on these concrete football courts that Reiss and his close friend Sancho honed their skills as boys.

This development saw them getting invited to the London Southwark Kids Competition.

According to SkySports. On a chilly autumn evening in south London, both boys (Sancho and Reiss Nelson) played in the competition, to the amazement of fans.

Holmes-Lewis, a football coach and mentor, once confessed about what he saw;

“When I got to the pitch, I saw this kid ping a 30-yard then cross-field pass to another boy (Jadon Sancho), who then volleyed it straight back to him.

In reaction, I quickly grabbed my two coaches, Cedric [Kobongo] and Ahmet [Akdaj], and said, ‘Did you see that telepathic understanding? That was out of control!!”

Both Reiss Nelson and Jadon Sancho ended up helping their team win the competition, a feat that delighted Holmes-Lewis.

Reiss Nelson Biography – Early Career Life:

His success in local football earned him a spot at Moonshot, a nearby youth academy. It was during his time there that he caught the eye of scouts from Tottenham, leading to a short stint with the club.

However, after only a month, an irresistible offer came from Arsenal, which he couldn’t turn down. Around the same time, his best friend Jadon Sancho received a call from Watford, marking the start of both their promising football journeys.

The passion both Reiss and Sancho had for football saw them in the year 2007 passing trials and getting inducted into the academy setup of Arsenal and Watford, respectively. Beginning his life at the academy wasn’t easy for Reiss.

Back then, he would wake up early to get the train to Catford alongside his older brother. He did that three times a week.

No distance of place or lapse of time could lessen the friendship between Reiss and Sancho. It only took 38 minutes by train and 52 minutes by car for both boys to see each other.

At the age of 14, around March 2015, Jadon Sancho moved to Manchester City. Reiss Nelson continued to make progress with Arsenal as he moved up the ranks very quickly.

Reiss Nelson Bio – Road to Fame Story:

Having raced up through the academy ranks, Reiss was awarded his first professional contract by Arsene Wenger on his 17th birthday.

In a bid to get gaming time, Reiss made a critical decision about his career. Jadon Sancho, who had earlier left for Borussia Dortmund in Germany, had advised his best friend Reiss to join him in the German Bundesliga.

The English footballer decided to follow in his best friend’s footsteps by going on loan to play with 1899 Hoffenheim, a German club in the German first division.

Like Borussia Dortmund for Jadon Sancho, Hoffenheim also gave Reiss Nelson the platform to showcase his talent.

Reiss Nelson was once celebrated as the top-scoring Englishman through Europe with six goals in 7 games, scoring every 54 minutes on average.

As observed below, neither Raheem Sterling nor Harry Kane could beat that.

Reiss Nelson Biography – Success Story:

Nelson’s impact at Hoffenheim earned him a promotion to England’s U21s. It also prompted Unai Emery to place an early recall for the youngster.

Those traits he possessed– the self-belief, work rate and determination – which were apparent at Hoffenheim have now served him well with Arsenal.

Reiss Nelson, the Arsenal Loyal Prodigy, became the 844th player to represent the club’s first team. Without a doubt, he has proven to fans that he is the next beautiful promise of the English generation of the club. The rest, as they say, is now history.

Personal Life outside football:

Getting to know Reiss Nelson’s personal life would help you get a better picture of his person. Starting off, he is a cool guy who loves to display humbleness amidst the fame of modern-day football.

Nelson is someone who is able to transform his thoughts into concrete actions and will do anything humanly possible to achieve his goals.

Reiss Nelson Family Life:

Nelson, although born in England, still appreciates his Zimbabwean roots. From what it seems, his father, mother and elder brother have all made the conscious choice of not seeking public recognition.

About Reiss Nelson’s Father:

Very little is known about his Zimbabwean dad, not even his name. However, according to the Arsenal website, Reiss once gave his dad some credit for keeping him grounded.

About Reiss Nelson’s Mother:

Reflecting on his childhood days, one of Reiss’s best memories is that concerning his mum.

It’s the moment she would work really hard to buy him Thierry Henry‘s jerseys, which he wore every day to school, parties and playing on the pitch. Below is a photo of both mother and son having a passionate hug.

About Reiss Nelson’s Siblings:

According to Arsenal’s website, his older brother is credited for giving up his social life in order to help his younger brother achieve his dream.

His older brother, who still remains anonymous (name- unknown), sacrificed so much to get Reiss where he is today.

Whenever Reiss goes to parties on a Friday night, his older brother makes sure he is getting enough rest before the weekend’s early starts.

His elder brother would also take him to and fro the train for academy lectures, including late and early kick-offs.

Reiss Nelson Lifestyle:

The soccer star is a fun-loving guy who enjoys making and spending his money and living his life to the fullest.

He sometimes prefers riding jet skis on the waves of the sea rather than having his car on the roads. This sums up his unique lifestyle.

Untold Facts:

In the final section of Rees Nelson’s Bio, we’ll unveil more truths you might not know about him. Without further ado, let’s begin.

His Best Friends:

Aside from Jadon Sancho, Reiss has two of his best friends, Eddie Nketiah and Joe Willock. All boys journeyed through the ranks of Arsenal academy, becoming successful in their trades.

What is Reiss Nelson’s Religion:

Reiss Nelson’s middle name, “Luke,” indicates a Christian background, suggesting he may lean toward the Catholic faith. The name “Luke” has deep Christian significance, as Luke was the author of the Biblical Acts of the Apostles and the third Gospel in the New Testament. It’s a name often associated with compassion, healing, and dedication, which reflects the spiritual heritage that might have influenced Reiss from a young age. This connection to his faith might provide a sense of grounding and purpose, both on and off the pitch.

Fact Check:

Thanks for reading our Reiss Nelson Biography and Untold Childhood Story. We strive for accuracy and fairness in our quest to deliver you Gunners’ Football Stories. Have you read the Life History of Emile Smith Rowe and Matt Turner?

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