Arsenal Confirms Noni Madueke Signing From Chelsea – But Is He Worth The Price?

‎England international, Noni Madueke, announced his departure from Chelsea on Friday, with Arsenal confirming their new signing later that afternoon.

‎The 23-year-old, who was born in North London, bid farewell to the Blues on Instagram.

‎Madueke joined Chelsea from Dutch club PSV in January 2023 and has made 92 appearances across all competitions, scoring 20 goals and providing nine assists.

‎It was then announced soon after that he had made his move to Arsenal on a ‘long-term contract’, where he will wear the number 20 shirt.

‎Manager Mikel Arteta told Arsenal’s official website, “We’re all so happy to welcome Noni Madueke to the team.

‎“Noni is an exciting and powerful young player, with his performances and numbers in recent seasons being of consistently high quality. He is one of the most talented wide forward players in the Premier League.

‎“At just 23, Noni already brings experience of club and international football, and he knows the Premier League very well. Having seen the quality of Noni’s performances up close in recent seasons, we’re really excited he is joining us.”

‎Reports suggest the move between the two London clubs cost the Gunners around 50 million pounds, a profit for Chelsea on their signature two years ago.

‎Madueke wrote on Instagram, “Dear Chelsea Football Club, I want to thank you for the last 3 or so years… To my teammates thank you for everything, I leave with only love and admiration for you guys.

‎”To (Chelsea manager) Enzo Maresca, it was a privilege to play under you, thank you for trying to better me as a player and as a person. Lastly thank you to every single Chelsea fan. Thank you for the love, the praise, and the criticism.

‎”I appreciate it all. I leave here with nothing but fond memories.”

‎Which Position Will He Play? 

‎On the surface, the deal appears somewhat perplexing. Out of the 92 games Madueke played for Chelsea, 83 were on the right wing. In the seven matches he started as a left-winger last season, he failed to score or assist in any of them.

‎At Arsenal, that position is occupied by Bukayo Saka, one of their top players who, if fit, is expected to start most matches there. Spending such a significant fee on a player likely to see limited game time raises questions about the strategy.

‎However, some suggest Madueke has been signed to provide versatility across both wings offering competition for Gabriel Martinelli on the left and cover for Saka on the right. If this is the case, it might explain why Arsenal isn’t pursuing another left-winger like Real Madrid’s Rodrygo.

‎But the bigger question is whether Madueke’s performances in the Premier League have justified such a hefty fee, regardless of his future role.

‎Additionally, what impact could this signing have on the rest of Arsenal’s squad and their transfer plans this summer?

‎Madueke participated in five of Chelsea’s seven matches at the Club World Cup in the United States, but did not feature in the final, where Chelsea defeated Paris Saint-Germain 3-0.