11 Noni Madueke

Chukwunonso Tristan “Noni” Madueke was born on March 10, 2002, in Barnet, Greater London. Of Nigerian Igbo descent, he later moved to Wintelre, Netherlands, with his mother upon signing for PSV Eindhoven.

Early Career

Madueke began his football journey at Crystal Palace at age nine, spending three years at the club before joining Tottenham Hotspur. At Spurs, he captained the under-16 side and debuted for the under-18 team at just 15.

PSV Eindhoven

In June 2018, Madueke signed with Dutch giants PSV Eindhoven on a three-year contract, rejecting interest from Manchester United. He made his senior debut for Jong PSV in the Eerste Divisie on August 26, 2019, as a substitute in a 1–0 loss to MVV Maastricht.

On January 19, 2020, Madueke debuted for PSV’s first team in a 1–1 draw against VVV-Venlo. During the 2020–21 season, he scored on his first start in a 2–1 win over Emmen and finished the campaign with seven Eredivisie goals. His performances were lauded, tallying nine goals and eight assists across all competitions.

On August 7, 2021, he starred in PSV’s 4–0 Johan Cruyff Shield victory over Ajax, scoring twice and ending Ajax’s 17-game unbeaten streak. Weeks later, he extended his contract until 2025 and was handed the prestigious number 10 jersey.

Chelsea

On January 20, 2023, Chelsea secured Madueke’s services on a seven-and-a-half-year contract for a reported fee of £28.5 million (€33 million). He scored his first goal for the club on May 2, 2023, in a 3–1 defeat to Arsenal.

The 2024–25 season saw Madueke in the headlines for both his performances and off-field incidents. After a social media controversy regarding Wolverhampton, he responded on the pitch by scoring a hat-trick in a 6–2 away win against Wolves on August 25, later issuing an apology for his remarks. In December 2024, Chelsea manager Enzo Maresca urged him to improve his work rate after he lost his starting place. A setback followed in February 2025, as he suffered an injury, sidelining him until late March.

Youth Career

Madueke has represented England at various youth levels, scoring twice for the under-17s in a qualifier against Denmark. He was part of England’s squad at the 2019 UEFA European Under-17 Championship and debuted for the under-18s in September 2019.

His England under-21 call-up came in March 2021 for the UEFA European Under-21 Championship, where he made his debut in a 2–0 defeat to Portugal. He scored his first goal for the U21s in a 4–0 friendly win over France on March 25, 2023.

In June 2023, he played a key role in England’s victorious 2023 UEFA European Under-21 Championship campaign, featuring in all six matches as the team won the tournament without conceding a goal.

Senior Career

Madueke received his first senior England call-up on August 29, 2024, for UEFA Nations League matches against the Republic of Ireland and Finland. He debuted on September 10, 2024, against Finland at Wembley Stadium, assisting Harry Kane’s second goal in a 2–0 victory.

Madueke is a dynamic, left-footed winger known for his dribbling, speed, and creativity. Upon signing for PSV, he was described as a “creative, physically strong midfielder.” His former manager Roger Schmidt praised his ability to “read situations and be in the right place.” The BBC has highlighted him as a “direct, powerful, and versatile attacker” inspired by Cristiano Ronaldo.