Arsenal seal Madueke signing from Chelsea in divisive move

Arsenal has signed England planetary Noni Madueke from Chelsea contempt wide disapproval from club’s fans.

Arsenal person sealed the arguable signing of Chelsea guardant Noni Madueke successful a woody worthy a reported 48 cardinal pounds ($65m).

Madueke agreed to a five-year declaration with the Gunners arsenic helium moved to the Emirates Stadium contempt complaints from Arsenal fans.

The 23-year-old volition supply contention for Bukayo Saka and Gabriel Martinelli connected the flanks successful Mikel Arteta’s side.

Madueke’s power crossed London, which could yet transcend $69m with performance-related add-ons, has led to stinging disapproval from supporters who judge helium is not worthy the terms tag.

A petition labelled “No to Madueke” has attracted much than 5,000 signatures from Arsenal fans, portion murals extracurricular the Emirates were vandalised with “Arteta out” slogans.

Madueke left Chelsea’s FIFA Club World Cup-winning run successful the United States past Friday to acquisition his aesculapian astatine Arsenal and enactment the finishing touches to the deal.

“Noni is an breathtaking and almighty young player, with his performances and numbers successful caller seasons being of consistently precocious quality. He is 1 of the astir talented wide guardant players successful the Premier League,” Arteta said.

“At conscionable 23, Noni already brings acquisition of nine and planetary football, and helium knows the Premier League precise well. Having seen the prime of Noni’s performances up adjacent successful caller seasons, we’re truly excited helium is joining us.

“Noni joins our radical with acquainted England teammates and different players helium knows. He volition beryllium made to consciousness astatine location consecutive away. His accomplishment volition truly amended our squad. We’re each thrilled to person him here.”

Madueke, who was raised successful northbound London, added: “I’m truly blessed and truly proud, truthful it’s a large infinitesimal for me. It’s large to spell backmost home, beryllium with my mum, my dad. I cognize my mum misses maine successful the house!

“It’s already a large squad with a wide identity, and I can’t hold to bring my benignant to the squad and effort and assistance the boys arsenic overmuch arsenic imaginable to instrumentality that adjacent step.

“I privation to triumph each the competitions we’re in. I consciousness similar we’re decidedly susceptible of doing that.”

Madueke scored 11 times for Chelsea successful each competitions past season, taking his wide tally to 20 successful 90 appearances successful each competitions for the Blues.

He helped Chelsea suffice for the Champions League and triumph the UEFA Conference League past term, arsenic good arsenic making his archetypal England appearances.

Madueke, who joined Chelsea from PSV Eindhoven for 30 cardinal pounds ($40m astatine existent rate) successful 2023, is the latest close-season signing by Arsenal aft the arrivals of midfielders Martin Zubimendi and Christian Norgaard and goalkeeper Kepa Arrizabalaga.

He takes Arsenal’s spending truthful acold to astir 120 cardinal pounds ($161m), with Valencia defender Cristhian Mosquera’s 13 cardinal pounds ($17.5m) determination expected to beryllium finalised shortly.

Arsenal besides remains hopeful of signing Sporting Lisbon striker Viktor Gyokeres.

Madueke volition articulation up with his caller Arsenal teammates successful aboriginal August aft their preseason circuit of Singapore and Hong Kong.

Source:

Al Jazeera and quality agencies