Trending 
Arsenal sealed their controversial acquisition of Chelsea forward Noni Madueke on Friday for a fee estimated at £48 million ($65 million). The 23-year-old has signed a five-year contract with the Gunners as he transitions to the Emirates Stadium, despite protests from Arsenal supporters.
Madueke will offer competition for Bukayo Saka and Gabriel Martinelli on the wings in Mikel Arteta’s lineup.
The forward’s move across London, which could ultimately exceed £52 million with performance-linked bonuses, has drawn sharp backlash from fans who feel he does not justify the steep price.
A petition titled ‘No to Madueke’ has garnered over 5,000 signatures from Arsenal supporters, and murals near the Emirates have been defaced with messages demanding ‘Arteta out.’
Madueke departed Chelsea’s Club World Cup-winning expedition in the United States last Friday to complete his medical at Arsenal and finalise the transfer.
“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,” Arteta said.
Last season, he scored 11 goals across all competitions for Chelsea, bringing his total to 20 goals in 90 appearances while with the Blues.
He played a key role in helping Chelsea secure a Champions League spot and win the UEFA Conference League last season, while also making his debut for England.
Madueke, who was raised in north London, said: “I’m really happy and really proud, so it’s a great moment for me. It’s great to go back home, be with my mum, my dad. I know my mum misses me in the house!
“It’s already a great team with a clear identity, and I can’t wait to bring my style to the team and try to help the boys as much as possible to take that next step.
Having moved to Chelsea from PSV Eindhoven for £30 million in 2023, Madueke is the latest summer addition for Arsenal, following the signings of midfielders Martin Zubimendi and Christian Norgaard, along with goalkeeper Kepa Arrizabalaga.
This brings Arsenal’s total spending in the transfer market to around £120 million, with the completion of Valencia defender Cristhian Mosquera’s £13 million transfer expected soon.
Arsenal is also optimistic about adding Sporting Lisbon striker Viktor Gyokeres to their roster.
Madueke is scheduled to join his new Arsenal teammates in early August after their pre-season tour of Singapore and Hong Kong.
