Arsenal confirm Ethan Nwaneri is STAYING after agreeing new terms

Arsenal confirm Ethan Nwaneri is STAYING after agreeing scholarship terms, with Gunners seeing off interest from Chelsea and Man City to keep youngest player in Premier League history

  • Mikel Arteta is said to have played a key role in the contract negotiations
  • Nwaneri played against Brentford last season at the age of 15 years and 181 days
  • He will play for the academy side this season under U18 coach Jack Wilshere

Arsenal have secured the future club record breaker Ethan Nwaneri after he signed a two-year scholarship deal.

The now-16-year-old became the youngest player in Premier League history at the age of 15 years and 181 days, when he came on during a 3-0 win over Brentford back in September.

There has been stern interest in his services since, with Chelsea and Manchester City among the sides to push hard to try and sign the teenager.

But Arsenal have managed to fend off interest and have made sure Nwaneri will stay at the club for at least the foreseeable future until he signs a professional contract.

He will be able to do just that when he turns 17 on March 21 2024, with a battle for his signature likely to be on again.

Arsenal have secured the future of record-breaking teenager Ethan Nwaneri after he signed a scholarship deal

Nwaneri became the youngest player in Premier League history after playing at the age of 15 years and 181 days last season

First team manager Mikel Arteta is said to have played a key role in the contract negotiations

Arsenal released the news that 13 players had signed scholarship deals, with Nwaneri included in the list of players.

They didn’t acknowledge his first team experiences on their website when sharing the news, however, posting: ‘Ethan has been with us for a long time, progressing through Hale End from pre-academy right the way through to London Colney. He plays mostly as an attacking midfield player and has always scored goals from this position on his development journey. 

‘Ethan can dribble, beat defenders and sees the last pass very well. Ethan has represented England at youth level.’

It’s believed that first team manager Mikel Arteta played a key role in talks, as well as academy manager Per Mertesacker and sporting director Edu.

Nwaneri will play for Arsenal’s academy side this season under U18 head coach Jack Wilshere (left)

Meetings involved discussing the best route for the midfielder to become a regular in Arsenal’s first team in the future.

That is likely a few years away yet, and the youngster will play for Arsenal’s academy side again this year, coached by U18 head coach Jack Wilshere.

Also signing scholarship deals were Bless Akolbire, Jakai Bascoe-Fisher, Dan Casey, Reece Clairmont and Louie Copley.

Ayden Heaven, Cam’ron Ismail, Max Kuczynski, Myles Lewis-Skelly, Daniel Oyetunde, Zac Shuaib and Will Sweet also put pen to paper on contracts. 


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