Arsenal and England footballer Myles Lewis-Skelly is currently on holiday in St Lucia, where he has been reconnecting with his Caribbean heritage and inspiring a group of local young footballers in Gros Islet.
The visit, organised through UK tour operator Inspiring Travel and supported by the St Lucia Tourism Authority (SLTA), gave the 18-year-old a chance to unwind with family while exploring the island where his paternal roots lie.
“He’s on a holiday here and that is in partnership with tour operator Inspiring Travel, here with his mom,” said Gerraine Georges, Public Relations Manager at the Saint Lucia Tourism Authority. “And of course, having St Lucian heritage, the St Lucia Tourism Authority partnered with Inspiring Travel to ensure he would have a wonderful stay here.”
Lewis-Skelly, who was born on September 26, 2006, in Denmark Hill, London, has St Lucian ancestry through his late grandfather, who was from Forestière.
The highlight of the visit so far came on July 1, when Lewis-Skelly joined 30 children from the Gros Islet Youth Football League for a football session at the Daren Sammy Cricket Ground.
“The 30 children from the Gros Islet Youth Football Club had the opportunity to play with him on July 1st, and that was at Daren Sammy Cricket Ground,” Georges said. “So you know, they ran about, played ball for about an hour.”
Afterwards, Lewis-Skelly met with officials from the SLTA and was presented with a special gift. “He was also presented with his own Lewis-Skelly ‘49’ St Lucia-branded shirt, which he really liked and put on right away,” Georges shared.
Outside of football, the visit has also given Lewis-Skelly and his mother, Marcia, the chance to explore the island’s natural wonders and culture. “He’s had the opportunity to explore the Sulphur Springs,” Georges said. “They’ll be going to the Gros Islet Friday Night Street Party, and there are a couple of things he’ll be doing now—just getting out and about, seeing the Pitons and so on.”
Georges confirmed that as of this week, “He’s still on the island.”
Lewis-Skelly, a product of Arsenal’s Hale End Academy, made his first-team debut for the Premier League club during the 2024–25 season. He also earned his first senior cap for England in March 2025, scoring on debut in a FIFA World Cup qualifier against Albania and being named Man of the Match.
While still early in his career, the St Lucia trip has been a moment for reflection and connection—both for Lewis-Skelly and for the young aspiring footballers who got to share a pitch with one of the sport’s brightest prospects.