Arsenal and Chelsea join race for Championship wonderkid

Cameron Smith

• 15 Sept 2024 17:45 BST
• 3 min read

Arsenal and Chelsea are reportedly among the clubs interested in signing Stoke City midfielder Souleymane Sidibe.

The 17-year-old is one of the most highly-rated youngsters in English football and his progress is being monitored by several top Premier League teams.

According to TBR Football, Sidibe is being watched by Arsenal, Chelsea, Manchester City, Aston Villa, Nottingham Forest and Wolverhampton Wanderers as the race for his signature intensifies.

READ MORE: Who is Sol Sidibe? The Stoke wonderkid wanted by Man Utd and Man City

Sidibe made his senior debut for the Potters against Rotherham in August 2023 and he became the club’s third youngest player of all time at just 16 years and 176 days old in the process.

Although Sidibe isn’t yet a regular name on the team sheet at the bet365 Stadium, he was handed his first Championship start of the season versus Oxford United on Saturday, lasting 58 minutes during their 1-0 defeat.

Meanwhile, the Stoke youngster is an England U18 international and he grabbed an assist during a 1-1 draw against France during the September fixtures.

READ MORE: Arsenal 'leading chase' for former Man Utd midfielder

What has been said about Sidibe?

After Sidibe’s senior debut game, Alex Neil told BBC Radio Stoke: “I thought his performance justified why he's been with the first team all pre-season and why I played him in the game.

“I had no concerns over him. He's a terrific talent but he's also really mature, for being so young.

“He did exactly as I expected him to do - he did wonderfully well and he played in a Stoke team that won the game, and played the majority of the match.

“I think when you're 16 years old, most players of that age could only dream of doing something like that.”

Sidibe has three years remaining on his current Stoke deal, having signed his first professional contract in July.