Former Arsenal goalkeeper Alexéi Rojas championed environmental sustainability initiatives during his eight years at the club. The 21-year-old, who left for Portuguese side Penafiel this summer, pushed for changes at the Hale End academy and influenced teammates with his personal commitment.
Rojas, born in Basildon and educated in England, represented Colombia at youth level. His passion for the environment was shaped by his mother's work in wind energy and a personal choice to cycle to training from the age of 15. He became a vocal advocate within the club, speaking to the entire academy group about the need for action.
He identified specific areas for improvement at Arsenal's training base. Rojas highlighted excessive plastic use, suggesting a switch to reusable or compostable alternatives, and pointed out energy waste from lights being left on unnecessarily. He successfully advocated for the installation of recycling bins. "We need to fix this," Rojas said, recalling his message to the club. His personal example, including using gloves made from recycled materials, led teammates to adopt reusable water bottles.
His advocacy extended beyond the training pitch. Rojas has spoken at forums like the London School of Economics and the Net Zero Summit. He also travelled to Kenya with the charity Boots to deliver donated football kit, connecting his environmental concerns with broader social issues. The brutal summer of 2026, which delayed grassroots seasons across the UK due to parched pitches, showed the urgency of the climate challenges he discusses.
While he never made a senior appearance, Rojas fulfilled a childhood dream by being part of the first-team environment. He was named on the bench twice under Mikel Arteta, for a Champions League match and a Carabao Cup tie. He trained daily with senior goalkeepers David Raya and Kepa Arrizabalaga and was part of the goalkeeper department that won the Premier League last season. "I’m a bit of an outlier as a person, I like being unique in who I am and what I do," Rojas said.
His departure came after a period where the first team has maintained strong form. Arsenal currently sit second in the Premier League with 15 points from six games, just three points behind leaders Manchester City. They are on a two-game winning run, following a 3-0 victory over Lille and a 2-1 win against Leeds. Bukayo Saka leads the scoring charts with three goals this season.
The squad now prepares for its next challenge, an away trip to face Nottingham Forest on 18 October. Fans can view the full upcoming schedule on the club's fixtures page. Rojas's legacy at Arsenal, though he didn't feature on the pitch, is one of pushing the club to consider its environmental footprint as it chases success on it.
More detail at The Guardian Football
