At first glance, the 23-year-old England international could offer valuable depth on both flanks, and still has room to grow as a player.
However, with the two clubs reportedly settling on a £52 million fee, it’s a significant investment—especially considering Arsenal have yet to secure a new centre-forward. ..Continue Reading
This has led to unease among sections of the fanbase, with many questioning the wisdom of spending so much on a player who may not be a guaranteed starter.
Madueke, for his part, appears enthusiastic about the move and has already agreed to a five-year contract with the Gunners, joining a growing list of players to cross the London divide.
Concerns have also been raised about his professionalism, as he was twice omitted from Chelsea’s matchday squads last season—one reportedly due to poor training performances.
He was also benched for the Club World Cup semi-final against Fluminense, with manager Enzo Maresca reportedly doubting his full commitment to the team.
According to The Guardian, Chelsea feel Madueke hasn’t progressed as much as they had hoped since signing him two-and-a-half years ago.
During his time at Stamford Bridge, he made 92 appearances, scoring 20 goals—including one in the Conference League final—and providing nine assists.
Chelsea originally signed him from PSV Eindhoven for £26 million, and now stand to double that amount by selling him to a direct Premier League rival.
The timing of the sale coincides with Chelsea’s need to raise funds after being fined €31 million (£26.8 million) by UEFA for breaching financial regulations.
That penalty could balloon to €91 million (£78.5 million) if the club fails to meet financial targets over the next four years.
UEFA also warned that Chelsea could be barred from registering new players for the Champions League unless they balance their books in time.
This summer, the Blues have already spent heavily on new signings, including Liam Delap, Joao Pedro, and Jamie Gittens—making player sales like Madueke’s increasingly necessary.
Chelsea agreed to pay an unconditional €20 million (£17.3 million) fine for violating UEFA’s football earnings rule.
An additional €11 million (£9.5 million) was levied for exceeding the squad cost ratio, which limits spending on wages and transfers.
These sanctions were imposed by UEFA’s Club Financial Control Body as part of a broader crackdown on financial sustainability.
Meanwhile, Chelsea will face Paris Saint-Germain in Sunday’s Club World Cup final, aiming to secure their second trophy under Maresca’s leadership.
