Arsenal‘s pursuit of Chelsea forward Noni Madueke has been one of the more surprising moves in the transfer window so far.
On the surface, Madueke would currently make a great rotation option for Arsenal at both left and right wing, and as a 23-year-old – who has also played for England – he still has room to develop.
However, with the two clubs agreeing a £52million fee, according to Mail Sport’s Kieran Gill, it appears to be a hefty outlay for the club, particularly when they have still not secured the services of a No 9.
As such, a number of Arsenal fans have already voiced their concerns over such a move, particularly at the price that has been agreed.
The player, though, has seemingly no issues joining Arsenal and has agreed personal terms on a five-year deal to become the latest in a growing list of players to make the switch from west to north London.
However, there had also been doubts over the player’s discipline, having been twice left out by Chelsea, one of which came over a reported poor training performance.
Arsenal have agreed a £52million fee with Chelsea to sign English winger Noni Madueke
Since signing for Chelsea in January 2023 he has only scored 20 goals and given nine assists
He was then left out of the starting XI for Chelsea’s Club World Cup semi-final clash with Fluminense earlier this week with Enzo Maresca apparently not convinced his sole focus was on his current side.
A report from the Guardian also claimed that Chelsea believe the player has not quite come on in the leaps and bounds that they thought he might after signing him two-and-a-half years ago.
In that time, he has played 92 games but only managed 20 goals – including one in the Conference League final – and nine assists.
Madueke was signed from PSV Eindhoven for £26m, with the Blues now set to double their money in a sale to one of their biggest rivals at a time when they could do with recouping funds.
Chelsea picked up a €31m (£26.8m) fine for breaching UEFA’s financial rules, with that figure potentially rising to a record-breaking €91m (£78.5m) if they fail to comply within the next four years amid the threat of further sanctions hanging over them.
European football’s governing body announced on Friday that Chelsea had agreed to a settlement, but the Blues may also be banned from registering new players for the Champions League unless they can balance their books in time.
This summer they have signed Liam Delap from Ipswich and Joao Pedro from Brighton, and Jamie Gittens from Borussia Dortmund, but now appear in a position where they need to sell, hence the Madueke departure.
Chelsea agreed to pay an unconditional fine of €20m (£17.3m) for not complying with UEFA’s ‘football earnings rule’.
A reported poor performance in training saw Madueke left out of the squad once in 2024-25
Enzo Maresca was not thought to be fully convinced Madueke’s sole focus was on Chelsea’s Club World Cup campaign
Chelsea have been fined €31million (£26.8m) by UEFA, potentially rising to €91m (£78.5m)
That could increase to €80m (£69m) if they do not comply with targets.
The Blues will also fork over a further €11m (£9.5m) fine for breaching the ‘squad cost rule’.
UEFA’s Club Financial Control Body imposed the disciplinary measures against Chelsea.
Chelsea will take on European champions Paris Saint-Germain on Sunday in the Club World Cup final for a chance at their second piece of silverware under Maresca.
