During his tenure at Arsenal, Mikel Arteta has now brought the sixth Chelsea player to the Gunners: Noni Madueke costs €60 million and is expected to strengthen the depth of the squad.
“He is an exciting young player who has consistently delivered good performances and numbers in recent seasons,“ said coach Mikel Arteta, praising Noni Madueke, who, according to the Spaniard, ”is one of the most talented wingers in the Premier League. At just 23 years old, Noni already has experience at club and international level and knows the Premier League inside out.”
Sports director Andrea Berta is also convinced, pointing to the striker’s “exceptional performances and commitment,” which “reflect his quality and professionalism. Noni is a dynamic, versatile winger with strong technical skills who will significantly strengthen our squad, and we are convinced that he will have a big impact at Arsenal.”
The player himself is confident that he has made the right decision. “I often rely on my gut feeling and I believe it has guided me in the right direction so far,” said Madueke, adding that he believes it “will be no different” at Arsenal.
Probably not a bargain for the Gunners
Mikel Arteta has now convinced half a dozen players to join him. Before Madueke, Raheem Sterling, Jorginho, Kai Havertz, Willian and, this summer, Kepa had already swapped the blue shirt for the red one. He will now play there with the number 20 on his back.
While substitute goalkeeper Kepa joined the Gunners for less than six million euros, Madueke is likely to cost more than ten times that amount. According to consistent media reports, the base transfer fee is 56 million euros, which could easily rise to just over 60 million euros with bonuses.
This also makes Madueke a good deal for Chelsea: in the summer of 2023, the Blues had “only” paid €33 million to PSV Eindhoven to bring the seven-time England international with Nigerian roots back to the island.
Five appearances in the Club World Cup
Madueke has signed a long-term contract with Arsenal, although the Gunners have not disclosed the exact details. The 23-year-old is the fourth summer signing for the reigning runners-up after goalkeeper Kepa (Chelsea) and midfielders Martin Zubimendi (Real Sociedad) and Christian Nörgaard (FC Brentford).
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Madueke is said to be another piece of the puzzle on the way to the long-awaited Premier League title. The right winger will certainly strengthen the depth and quality of the squad. Due to ongoing injury concerns surrounding Bukayo Saka, 18-year-old Ethan Nwaneri – fresh from winning the European Under-21 Championship – received an unexpected amount of playing time last season (26 Premier League appearances).
Madueke, for his part, has big plans. “I am convinced that we can win every competition we enter,” he said confidently, pointing out that Arsenal is “already a great team with a clear identity,” but that he can’t wait to “bring my style to the team and help the guys as much as possible to take the next step.”
Madueke came through the youth ranks at Crystal Palace and Tottenham Hotspur. At the age of 16, the left-footed player moved to Eindhoven, where he later made the leap to the professional ranks. Fifty-one Eredivisie appearances (eleven goals) were followed by 67 Premier League games (13 goals) for Chelsea. Madueke made five appearances for Chelsea in the Club World Cup, but did not directly contribute to any goals.
