Noni Madueke Set For Arsenal Move As Clubs Agree £50m Deal.
In a significant transfer development, Arsenal have reached an agreement with Chelsea to sign winger Noni Madueke for a reported £50m package, including add-ons. The 23-year-old England international, who has agreed personal terms on a five-year contract with the Gunners, is poised to complete his move across London, subject to a medical, marking a major coup for Mikel Arteta’s side.
Madueke, who joined Chelsea from PSV Eindhoven for £28.5m in January 2023, has made 91 appearances for the Blues, scoring 20 goals and providing nine assists. During the 2024/25 season, he featured in 46 matches, including 32 Premier League games, contributing 11 goals and five assists. Despite his productivity, Madueke has struggled to secure a consistent starting role under Chelsea head coach Enzo Maresca, particularly with the arrivals of attackers like João Pedro (£60m from Brighton), Jamie Gittens (£48.5m from Borussia Dortmund), and Liam Delap (£30m from Ipswich Town), alongside the imminent integration of young talents Estêvão Willian and Geovany Quenda.
Arsenal’s interest in Madueke, first reported by BBC Sport on 5 July 2025, stems from their need for versatile attacking options to provide depth and competition for Bukayo Saka and Gabriel Martinelli. The winger’s ability to play on both flanks, coupled with his direct dribbling and speed—33% of his Premier League carries last season were progressive, per The Athletic—makes him an ideal fit for Arteta’s system. Arsenal have already bolstered their squad this summer with goalkeeper Kepa Arrizabalaga (£5m from Chelsea) and midfielder Martin Zubimendi (£51m from Real Sociedad), but Madueke represents their first major attacking signing.
Chelsea, mindful of financial regulations following a UEFA settlement, are open to the deal, with Maresca stating after their Club World Cup quarter-final win over Palmeiras on 5 July 2025, “I want just players that are happy to be with us. The ones that are not happy, they are free to go.” Chelsea’s valuation was guided by Anthony Elanga’s £55m move to Newcastle, and the agreed £50m fee ensures a healthy profit on their initial investment. Talks between the clubs, which began after Arsenal’s initial bid on 9 July 2025, accelerated following Madueke’s limited role at the Club World Cup, where he made substitute appearances against Palmeiras and Fluminense.
The transfer has sparked mixed reactions among Arsenal fans, with some expressing concerns over signing another Chelsea player, citing past moves like Kai Havertz’s, while others welcome Madueke’s potential to ease Saka’s workload. The deal, expected to be finalised soon, underscores Arsenal’s ambition to strengthen their squad for a Premier League title push in the 2025/26 season.