Arsenal have completed the signing of England international Noni Madueke from Chelsea for an initial fee of £48.5 million, with potential add-ons pushing the final amount past £50 million.
The 23-year-old winger has signed a five-year contract with the Gunners, becoming the fourth arrival of a busy summer transfer window at the Emirates Stadium. Madueke left Chelsea’s Club World Cup camp in the United States ahead of their final against Paris Saint-Germain to finalise the deal.
“Humbled and blessed to be here,” Madueke posted on Instagram. “Thank you to everyone that made this possible. I can’t wait to get on the pitch and start to repay the faith shown in me. It’s going to be so special.”
Madueke made 92 appearances for Chelsea after joining from PSV Eindhoven for £30 million in January 2023. He scored 20 goals in all competitions for the Blues, including a key role in their UEFA Conference League triumph last season.
His Premier League performances and recent breakthrough into the England national team have caught the eye. Since making his international debut in August 2024, he has earned seven caps. He recently provided the assist for Harry Kane’s winner in a 1-0 victory over Andorra in World Cup qualifying.
Mikel Arteta, speaking to the club’s official website, praised Madueke’s impact and potential:
“Noni is an exciting and powerful young player, with consistently high-quality performances in recent seasons. He’s one of the most talented wide forwards in the Premier League. At just 23, he brings experience from both club and international football and knows the Premier League very well. His arrival will really improve our squad.”
Despite the optimism from Arteta, the move initially caused friction among some sections of Arsenal’s fanbase. A petition titled #NoToMadueke gained more than 5,000 signatures earlier this month, and murals near the Emirates were vandalised with “Arteta Out” slogans in protest of the transfer.
Nevertheless, Arsenal pushed ahead with the signing, identifying Madueke as both cover and competition for star winger Bukayo Saka. Saka has been a mainstay on the right for the Gunners but missed a chunk of last season with a hamstring injury, exposing the need for depth in attacking areas.
Madueke plays predominantly from the right but has also featured on the left. In the closing stages of last season, he started four of Chelsea’s last five league matches and the Conference League final on the left flank. His versatility gives Arteta options, especially with Gabriel Martinelli and Saka expected to compete on multiple fronts next season.
Statistically, Madueke outperformed both Martinelli and Saka in several attacking metrics last season, including expected goals (9.6), total shots (80), progressive carries (242), and touches in the opposition box (199). He finished the season with a combined 10 goals and assists in the Premier League.
Madueke is Arsenal’s second signing from Chelsea this summer following the arrival of goalkeeper Kepa Arrizabalaga. He joins midfielders Christian Nørgaard from Brentford and Martín Zubimendi from Real Sociedad as part of Arsenal’s summer rebuild.
The Gunners are also close to completing deals for Sporting Lisbon striker Viktor Gyökeres and Valencia defender Cristhian Mosquera, signaling serious intent to challenge for the Premier League title after falling short last season due to injuries and limited depth.
For Madueke, this move represents both a step up and a fresh start, with Arsenal betting on his explosiveness and end product to help propel them to silverware.
