Noni Madueke eyes ‘great success’ at Arsenal after £48m arrival from Chelsea

Arsenal’s £48 million (€55 million) arrival Noni Madueke said his new club are capable of winning it all after leaving Chelsea to become Mikel Arteta’s fourth signing of the summer.

Madueke’s controversial move across London, which provoked a backlash from some Arsenal supporters, takes the club’s spending to beyond £120 million so far.

Madueke, who has signed a five-year contract, follows Spain midfielder Martin Zubimendi, goalkeeper Kepa Arrizabalaga, who also joined from Chelsea, and Christian Norgaard in moving to the Emirates in the off-season, with Valencia defender Cristhian Mosquera’s £13m deal also expected to be finalised shortly.

Arsenal remain hopeful of signing striker Viktor Gyokeres from Sporting Lisbon, although it is not believed a deal, which could be worth as much as £65m, is imminent.

Madueke, 23, will provide competition to Bukayo Saka and Gabriel Martinelli in Arsenal’s wide areas and the club are confident his arrival will help fire them to a first Premier League title in two decades.

But the transfer, which could exceed £52m with performance-related add-ons, has been met with severe criticism by Arsenal supporters on social media. A petition against the England international’s move to the Emirates has attracted more than 5,000 signatures.

However, Madueke said: “I’m somebody who goes with my gut feeling a lot of the time and I feel like it’s steered me in the right direction so far. So I don’t think it’s going to be any different here. I think it’s going to be a great success and I’m really happy to be here.

“I’ve just been relaxed, waiting for the green light and when I came in today, it all felt real. I’m really happy and really proud, so it’s a great moment for me.

Noni Madueke
For a Young 23