Former Arsenal goalkeeper Alexéi Rojas has built a reputation not just for his work between the posts but for his determined push to make football more environmentally sustainable, a cause he says has shaped his identity since his teenage years at the club's Hale End academy.
Rojas, who left Arsenal this summer after eight years to join Portuguese second-tier side Penafiel, says his drive to stand out has always extended beyond the pitch. "I'm a bit of an outlier as a person, I like being unique in who I am and what I do," he said, adding that this mentality was part of what drew him to goalkeeping in the first place.
His environmental awareness traces back to his mother's career in wind energy. Visits to her office introduced him to the world of renewables, and by the age of 15 he was already pushing for change at Arsenal's academy, opting to cycle to training rather than accept lifts from his parents.
That early commitment soon turned into advocacy. Rojas recalled addressing academy staff and teammates directly about the need for reform. "I spoke about sustainability in front of everyone. The staff realised this is something I'm really passionate about. I jumped at the opportunity. I said: 'We need to fix this,'" he explained, pointing to the lack of recycling facilities, excessive plastic use, and wasted energy from lights left on unnecessarily at the training ground.
His campaigning had a ripple effect, with teammates switching to reusable bottles after seeing his example. Rojas, whose goalkeeper gloves are made with recycled materials from a manufacturer that funds ocean plastic removal, believes clubs at every level need to take sustainability more seriously - from kit production to broader environmental campaigns.
He has also raised concerns about football's global carbon footprint, citing the extensive travel required for top-level competition and major tournaments. "In our day-to-day, we may not see much of a climate impact right now but, 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," Rojas said. He has shared these views at institutions including the London School of Economics and the Net Zero Summit.
Born in Basildon, Essex, and educated in England, Rojas has represented Colombia at youth level and has witnessed firsthand how shifting weather patterns are already affecting the sport. He pointed to the extreme summer of 2026, which left grassroots pitches across the UK parched and unplayable, delaying the start of the season in several areas. "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 warned.
Beyond climate advocacy, Rojas has also engaged in charitable work, traveling to Kenya with Charity Boots to distribute donated football kit and equipment. He described the initiative as addressing two issues simultaneously - reducing waste while improving access to sport for disadvantaged communities. "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," he said.
On the pitch, Rojas made two appearances on Arsenal's bench under manager Mikel Arteta, in the Champions League and Carabao Cup, though he never featured in a senior match for the club. He trained daily alongside goalkeepers David Raya and Kepa Arrizabalaga during Arsenal's Premier League title-winning campaign last season. "To be part of a group of so many elite, world-class players is something that you dream of," Rojas reflected, before departing for Penafiel in search of regular first-team football.
Based on reporting from The Guardian (Hotspot newsletter).