Arsenal has officially announced that Ethan Nwaneri, the promising talent from Hale End, has pledged his allegiance to the Gunners by signing his first professional contract, securing his future with the club in the long term.
Last season, Nwaneri made headlines by becoming the youngest player in Premier League history, debuting for the first team at just 15 years and 181 days old, during a triumphant 3-0 win against Brentford.
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Despite being unable to sign scholarship forms at such a young age, Nwaneri garnered significant attention from clubs like Manchester City, Liverpool, and Chelsea. However, the Islington-native ultimately chose to stay loyal to Arsenal.
Regulations stipulate that players cannot ink professional contracts until they reach 17 years of age. Nwaneri recently celebrated his 17th birthday, promptly solidifying his commitment to Arsenal by signing professional terms with the club he has been a part of since the tender age of eight.
“We are extremely proud of Ethan and his journey, from pre-academy to Hale End, then a seamless transition to Sobha Realty Training Centre and then making his first team debut,” Arsenal academy manager Per Mertesacker said. “Ethan’s journey now continues, and we will all be there alongside him to support his development.
“Ethan has a strong ability to master the ball and dominate possession, this is what we are all about at Arsenal Football Club. He is someone that will thrive on and off the pitch, he is a strong young gunner and we look forward to working with him during his ongoing development in the years to come.”
After his senior debut against Brentford, Nwaneri has only made one more first-team appearance against West Ham. Mikel Arteta emphasized the importance of earning the trust of teammates, explaining his decision to reintegrate the youngster into the first-team environment at the London Stadium.
“I had two things. One, the players on the bench whispering ‘Bring Ethan in!’, which is a great thing to hear. The other thing is for your teammates to give you the ball all the time. If they do that, it’s because they really trust you and you only have to see how many times he was involved in that. So it’s a great sign.”
Nwaneri’s stellar performance persists at the academy level this season, netting an impressive 14 goals in 14 appearances. Additionally, he has showcased his talent on the international stage, representing England at the Under-17s level.
