Arsenal have been handed a significant squad boost ahead of the 2025–26 season, with the Premier League reportedly confirming Noni Madueke as a homegrown player, a move that has delighted Gunners supporters.
Madueke recently made the move to Arsenal for an initial £48.5million from Chelsea, in a transfer that raised eyebrows across the country due to the two clubs’ rivalry and his status as one of the Blues’ main man last season.
According to emerging reports, the 22-year-old winger will count towards Arsenal’s homegrown player quota for domestic competitions, a valuable asset under Premier League squad registration rules.
However, there is a key distinction when it comes to European football. Under UEFA regulations, Madueke does not qualify as association-trained, meaning he will not be considered a homegrown player for Arsenal’s Champions League squad, a factor that may influence Mikel Arteta’s squad selections on the continental stage.
Despite this, the news is seen as a positive step for the Gunners. Madueke’s homegrown status gives Arteta added flexibility when naming his Premier League squad, allowing room for greater balance between overseas and domestic players.
With the news making waves on social media, Softfootball has garnered reactions from fans on X, many of whom welcomed the development with optimism about what the former Chelsea star could bring to the Emirates next season, others are not moved, with the view that he will be sidelined under Saka and Martinelli shadows.
Below are some of the reactions:
@UpyourArsenal praised the move and had strong words for Andrea Berta:
“Noni Madueke is officially re-classified as a Homegrown player by the PL. If Chelsea knew this, they wouldn’t have let him go for £45m. Andrea Berta is a DEMON”
@Badsarcas questioned the tactical fit at Arsenal:
“Arsenal fans, now you can celebrate Noni Madueke’s homegrown status while Mikel Arteta figures out how to fit him in between Saka and Martinelli’s shadow.”
@lamKitto0 was thrilled with the business value of the transfer:
“This auto increases his value by good 15-20 mils, we robbed Chelsea 😂😭😂😭😂.”
@GaryHowes1974 highlighted the long-term vision behind the signing:
“And thats why Arteta bought him, homegrown in depth on either wing, slowly bring through Max wide, and rotate Odegaard and Nwaneri to have a group of 19/20 years olds as 1st choice in 2-3 seasons along with Skelly and couple of others breaking through
@FootballGods002 strongly criticized the Premier League’s classification:
Corruption at it’s finest. Bought when he was 21 years old and hasn’t played a second in the academy yet is classed as homegrown. Disgusting from the Premier league.
@TylenWarren07 expressed regret over Chelsea’s handling of the transfer:
Looking at him and remembering the money we paid for him it’s hurts me so bad just like Havertz man this club has put through a lot
The Premier League’s rulebook states that, to qualify for being homegrown, a player must have been registered to either the Football Association or the Welsh FA or for three entire seasons before the end of the campaign in which they turn 21-years-old.
Madueke spent four years in Tottenham’s youth set-up before joining Dutch side PSV at 16-years-old in 2018, which is where he broke into senior football before he moved back to England to join Chelsea in January 2023, just two months before his 21st birthday.
It is believed that his obvious lack of first-team appearances for Spurs is why the trouble registering him as homegrown first arose, but the Premier League has now confirmed that he spent the required three seasons in Tottenham’s academy to qualify for such status and they have updated his status internally after a request was made to do so before the end of the 2024/25 season.
The Gunners are now set to benefit from something that was seemingly out of their control, as he will not need to be counted as one of the 17 non-homegrown players that they are able to name in their 25-man Premier League squad, and so they could use his spot on another new signing from overseas if needs be.
