Alexéi Rojas describes himself as something of an outlier, and he is content with that. The 21-year-old goalkeeper likes being unique in who he is and what he does, and he traces part of his pull towards goalkeeping to the same instinct. “I would say that was one of the biggest pulls for me to become a goalkeeper. I like being different,” he says.
That difference has long reached beyond the pitch. Rojas’s interest in the climate crisis began through his mother, who works in wind energy, and he would visit her office to learn more about renewables and their potential. By the age of 15 he was already altering habits at Arsenal’s Hale End academy, where he cycled to the training ground rather than taking a lift from his parents, shifting the attitudes of those around him.
He also took his message directly to the academy. “I spoke about sustainability in front of everyone,” Rojas recalls. “The staff realised this is something I’m really passionate about. I jumped at the opportunity. I said: ‘We need to fix this.'” His concerns were specific: a lack of recycling bins, excessive use of plastic that could be replaced with reusable items or compostable packaging, and energy wasted at a training ground where lights were left on when they were not needed. His stance drew interest from teammates, who quickly switched to reusable bottles.
Rojas argues that clubs have a duty to be active on sustainability, whether through the way kits are produced and where their materials come from or through dedicated campaigns. His own gloves incorporate recycled materials, and their manufacturer donates towards the removal of plastic from the oceans. He has spoken about the subject at the London School of Economics and the Net Zero Summit.
His broader warning concerns the future of the game itself. Rojas points out that the carbon impact of teams crisscrossing the globe for matches, and of major international tournaments drawing fans from around the world, is rarely considered. In his view the consequences may not be visible day to day, but they are already closing in. “As much as people love going to matches, love watching the World Cup, if we don’t protect the longevity of our game, we’re not going to be able to have these moments,” he says. “You’re not going to be able to go with your mates and watch football because the game may not even be on because of the weather conditions.” Making the issue relatable, he believes, is how people begin to understand it.
Rojas speaks from experience of a changing climate both at home and abroad. Born in the Essex town of Basildon and educated in England, he has represented Colombia at youth level. The brutal summer of 2026 left grassroots pitches across the United Kingdom looking like deserts, and the start of the season was delayed in parts of the country after dry and bumpy surfaces were deemed unplayable following months of dry weather. “It’s ultimately going to affect the longevity of the game because elite players start off by playing for local teams in the park and, without suitable conditions, opportunities will be lost,” he says.
He has also travelled to Kenya with Charity Boots to deliver donated kit, where more than 500 pairs of used football boots and kits were handed over in connection with an elephant conservation project. “You’re solving two problems in one,” Rojas explains. “You’re solving the sustainability problem because they are not just going to landfill or being burned. You’re also solving equality by helping disadvantaged people in different countries around the world have access to sports equipment, football boots, that they can then use to enjoy, have fun, and then maybe inspire.”
On the field, Rojas featured on the Arsenal bench twice under Mikel Arteta, once in the Champions League and once in the Carabao Cup, but never made a senior appearance for the club. He was part of the goalkeeper department when Arsenal won the Premier League last season, training every day with David Raya and Kepa Arrizabalaga, before leaving in the summer after eight years to join Penafiel in the Portuguese second tier.
Reflecting on that spell, he says the experience of sharing a dressing room with established names left a lasting impression. “To be part of a group of so many elite, world-class players is something that you dream of,” Rojas says, “especially when, five, six years back, a lot of these players I was living my day-to-day with, training with, were players that I was watching on TV and looking up to. Being part of a squad sitting in the Premier League, in the Carabao Cup, in the Champions League – things that you dream of as a kid.” His childhood dreams have since diversified, but the power of football remains at their heart, on and off the field.