Ex-Arsenal wonderkid who earned £10,000-a-night playing Fortnite signs for new club after turning down contract offer
A FORMER Arsenal star who earned £10,000-a-night playing Fortnite has joined a new club.
Reuell Walters turned down a new deal at the Gunners in order to pursue first-team football elsewhere, and has found a new home with nearby Luton.
Walters, 19, is a versatile defender capable of playing in both central and wide defensive positions.
The England Under-20 star joined Arsenal in 2020 from Tottenham before signing a pro deal in 2022.
But, after failing to make a first-team appearance, he has now signed a four-year deal with Championship side Luton as they bid to earn promotion back to the Premier League.
Speaking to club media, Walters said: “I’m really excited by the challenge ahead. I think I resonate with all the club’s beliefs.
“I like the style of play, I get along with Rob really well and there are a few friendly faces from the past here as well.
“Zack Nelson and Axel Piesold were at Tottenham’s academy with me when I was younger.
“We’ve known each other from when we were young and have kept in contact the last few years, so some things just come back around.”
As well as having skills on the pitch, Walters is also handy with a controller or keyboard and mouse, in particular Fortnite.
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Back in November 2019, the youngster got an email from the game’s creators to say he’d made £16 for his RJW’s BoxPVP map.
Dad Raphael said: “He said ‘I just made $20 for my map. People are in my map and when they buy stuff with their V-Bucks, I get a commission, so I made $20.'”
It’s estimated his map was used 250million times in one week.
In a video posted by 101GreatGoals, linking to UnderArmour, Walters added: “Obviously we weren’t allowed to leave our homes so I picked up a different hobby where everyone loves the game.
“I think as a teenage boy I was playing Fortnite with my friends and they were talking to me about how they just wanted to play this game mode and how it hadn’t been made before.
“So I just decided, you know, I’ll make something for them to play.”
The map has proven to be a popular one, with a staggering 250 million people downloading it.
And all the downloads led to Walters earning a cool £10,000 a night for a week straight.
So I just decided, you know, I’ll make something for them to play
Reuell Walters
Rob Edwards also hailed the transfer as Walters became the Hatters second signing of the summer.
He said: “Reuell is another person we are delighted to bring into the club. He’s a really exciting signing – a dynamic, quick, talented young player.
“He’s had a brilliant upbringing at a couple of top clubs, and we are so pleased to get his move done.
“Pathway is very important to him. That is one of the reasons why he is leaving Arsenal.
“He had a number of inviting options, but we are so glad that he chose us and sees us as the right step to take on his journey now.
“He’s got brilliant support, great family. He’s got loads of ability and high potential.
“He can play in a number of positions – right-back, right centre-back, right wing-back – and he’d be able to do the middle as well. He’s got lots of strings to his bow.
“He’s a young player, so there is no pressure. But we see him as someone who could potentially make an impact this season and I really hope he does.
“We’re looking forward to getting to working with him.”