March 14, (THEWILL) – Chelsea are currently leading the race to sign 15-year-old midfielder, Ethan Nwaneri, from Arsenal, as they seek to one-up the Gunners again.
The player’s negotiations for a senior contract at the Emirates have stalled, prompting significant interest from elsewhere. Manchester City and Manchester United have also tracked Nwaneri, while Borussia Dortmund and Ajax have expressed interest from overseas.
Nwaneri set the record for the youngest player in English Premier League history when he played for Arsenal at 15 years and 181 days old earlier this season. THEWILL recalls that last summer, Chelsea recruited Omari Hutchinson from the Arsenal academy and are looking to follow that up with a move for another Hale End gem in Nwaneri.
Arsenal, however, have not given up hope of retaining the teenager, who is part of an exciting generation at the club, which includes 16-year-old midfielder, Myles Lewis-Skelly and 17-year-old forward, Omari Benjamin. Negotiations were ongoing when Nwaneri made his Arsenal debut, and Arsenal would be entitled to a compensation fee if they lost him.
Manager Mikel Arteta denied that Nwaneri’s debut had anything to do with his future at the club, stating that it was “another step, another experience” for the young player. Yet, in the absence of a senior contract, Chelsea are ready to sign the teenager widely regarded as one of English football’s brightest prospects.
About the Author
Jude Obafemi is a versatile senior Correspondent at THEWILL Newspapers, excelling in sourcing, researching, and delivering sports news stories for both print and digital publications.
