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Ethan Nwaneri snubs Manchester City, Chelsea to extend Arsenal stay

By Ben Knapton, Senior Reporter | 05 July 2023

Ethan Nwaneri snubs Man City, Chelsea to extend Arsenal stay

Arsenal midfielder Ethan Nwaneri - the Premier League's youngest-ever player - snubs interest from Manchester City and Chelsea to sign a new deal in North London.

Arsenal academy product Ethan Nwaneri has signed a new two-year scholarship deal with the club, ending speculation over his future.

The England Under-17 international memorably became the Premier League's youngest-ever player when he made his debut aged 15 years and 181 days in September's 3-0 win over Brentford.

With Martin Odegaard missing, Fabio Vieira occupied the number 10 role at the Gtech Community Stadium and made way in the final minute for Nwaneri, who broke the previous record set by a 16-year-old Harvey Elliott.

Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta explained that he had a "gut feeling" about Nwaneri, but the 16-year-old has since been demoted back down to the youth team to continue his development.

Under the tutelage of Under-18s manager Jack Wilshere, Nwaneri scored four goals and set up three more in 10 Premier League 2 appearances last term, featuring as a number 10, left winger and centre-forward.

Jack Wilshere in training for Aarhus in February 2022 © Reuters

The Englishman also played a major role in Arsenal's run to the final of the FA Youth Cup, scoring two goals in five games as the Gunners suffered a 5-1 thrashing at the hands of West Ham United in the showpiece match.

Nwaneri's previous schoolboy terms were due to expire this summer, and both Manchester City and Chelsea were reportedly ready to go head-to-head for his signature amid doubts over his future.

Chelsea poached Omari Hutchinson from the Gunners' academy last year, but Nwaneri has instead committed his future to Arsenal, whom he has represented since 2015, and he can sign a professional contract when he turns 17 next year.

Nwaneri is one of 13 scholars to have penned new contracts in North London - a list that also includes highly-rated midfielder Myles Lewis-Skelly, who represented the first team during the friendly Dubai Super Cup tournament over the winter alongside Nwaneri.

"A huge congratulations to all of our new first-year scholars. This is the next step in their exciting journey and I'm personally looking forward to witnessing their continued progression with us," academy manager Per Mertesacker told arsenal.com.

A general view of Arsenal's Emirates Stadium from February 2022 © Reuters

"As they start this new chapter, our Academy colleagues will continue to work alongside each player to support and guide whenever they need us.

"We want to make them not only the best footballers they can be, but also the best people that they can be, and develop them all into Strong Young Gunners. This is a really promising group of players and we all look forward to seeing their continued development with us."

Nwaneri also has eight goals and one assist to boast from 17 appearances for England's Under-17s, helping his country achieve fifth place in May's Under-17 European Championships.

Meanwhile, Arsenal are now said to have reached a full agreement with West Ham United over the £105m signing of Declan Rice, who is set to become the Gunners' record signing and the second-most expensive British player of all time after Jude Bellingham.

Arteta's side have already welcomed Kai Havertz to the Emirates Stadium this summer, while negotiations with Ajax for defender Jurrien Timber are also expected to be concluded this week.