England winger Noni Madueke has officially confirmed his departure from Chelsea, fueling speculation of an imminent transfer to Premier League rivals Arsenal ahead of the 2025/26 season.
The 23-year-old made the announcement in an emotional Instagram post on Friday, expressing gratitude to Chelsea fans, teammates, and manager Enzo Maresca. His farewell comes just days after the Blues’ Club World Cup triumph in the United States.
“Dear Chelsea Football Club, I want to thank you for the last three or so years… To my teammates, thank you for everything. I leave with only love and admiration,” Madueke wrote. “To 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, for the love, the praise, and even the criticism. I appreciate it all. I leave here with nothing but fond memories.”
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Madueke joined Chelsea from Dutch giants PSV Eindhoven in January 2023 and quickly became a regular feature in the squad. Over the course of his Chelsea career, he made 92 appearances in all competitions, scoring 20 goals and registering nine assists.
While he played in five of Chelsea’s seven Club World Cup matches, the North London-born star was notably absent from the starting lineup in their 3-0 victory over Paris Saint-Germain in the final.
Transfer talks have intensified in recent weeks, with multiple British media outlets reporting that Arsenal are leading the race to sign the highly-rated winger. The Gunners are believed to be keen on strengthening their attacking options ahead of a renewed title challenge next season.
With Madueke now a free agent, all eyes are on Arsenal and whether they can seal a high-profile North London return for one of England’s most promising young talents.