EXCLUSIVE: Arsenal to hand Nwaneri dream 18th birthday present with contract extension

Steve Kay

• Updated: 30 Sept 2024 18:38 BST
• 3 min read

Exclusive

Arsenal are close to securing a new long-term contract for 17-year-old wonderkid Ethan Nwaneri, FootballTransfers can exclusively reveal.

The Gunners have been locked in talks with the teenager over a five-year extension to his current deal, and these are close to reaching a conclusion.

Discussions over the contract, which will keep Nwaneri at the Emirates Stadium until 2030, began in early August, as exclusively revealed by FootballTransfers.

He does not turn 18 until 21 March 2025, at which point he will be able to sign the new deal. At 17, he cannot sign a contract that runs longer than three years, so Gunners fans will need a little patience for this agreement to come to fruition.

Ethan Nwaneri: An explosive talent

Nwaneri has been a standout talent since joining Arsenal's Hale End academy at just nine years old. His rapid rise through the ranks has earned him comparisons to England star Jude Bellingham thanks to his exceptional technical ability and maturity on the ball.

Nwaneri has excelled at youth level, scoring 14 goals in 15 appearances, and is now making waves in senior football.

Sources close to the club reveal that Nwaneri’s representatives have been in regular contact with Arsenal's top brass, including manager Mikel Arteta, sporting director Edu Gaspar, and academy manager Per Mertesacker.

Mertesacker previously praised the young midfielder, stating: "Ethan has a strong ability to master the ball and dominate possession, which is what we are all about at Arsenal."

Nwaneri has already made a significant impact during his first-team appearances this season.

He scored twice in Arsenal's 5-1 victory over Brentford in the Carabao Cup and impressed Premier League audiences with appearances off the bench in the North London Derby and the recent 4-2 win over Leicester City.

It is even rumoured that Nwaneri could be handed a first Champions League start by Arteta against PSG on Tuesday.