Arsenal tie down wonderkid Ethan Nwaneri in historic deal after transfer interest from rivals Man City and Chelsea
ARSENAL wonderkid Ethan Nwaneri has signed a new contract at the Emirates.
The Gunners have managed to extend the 16-year-old’s deal despite fierce interest from elsewhere.
GettyEthan Nwaneri is set to stay at Arsenal[/caption]
Nwaneri became the youngest player in Premier League history when he was brought on against Brentford aged just 15 years and 181 days.
Manchester City and Chelsea are among the gaggle of clubs that have monitored the teenager’s progress.
According to Fabrizio Romano, Nwaneri has penned a new deal at Arsenal following successful negotiations.
The transfer expert claims that the midfielder has been handed the highest wages ever offered to a Gunners academy player.
Premier League stars only become eligible for a professional contract when they turn 17.
So Nwaneri will be on a scholarship deal until his birthday on March 21 next year.
His first pro deal is then expected to run until June 2026.
Nwaneri replaced Fabio Vieira in stoppage time during Arsenal’s 3-0 win at Brentford on September 18.
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After the match, boss Mikel Arteta gushed: “It was a feeling that I had yesterday, I don’t know why.
“The first day I met him I looked him in his eyes and everyone was telling me about him, Per was telling me about him, and because of the injuries we only have 12 or 13 senior players yesterday to put in the squad and we decided to bring him, and that’s it.
“It’s one step, one experience, so enjoy it and congratulations.
“It’s just one step and all the steps in your career are not forward and you have to know that.
“You can go forward then backwards and then forwards. You fall, you go back – that’s, unfortunately, this industry and the football career of any player.”
Following Nwaneri’s taste of Prem action, he primarily divided his time between Arsenal’s Under-23 and Under-18 sides.
ReutersThe teenager made his senior Prem debut last September[/caption]