His signing has sparked mixed reactions among Arsenal supporters. Some see him as a rising star on the verge of fulfilling his potential, while others feel the funds could’ve been better allocated. ..Continue Reading
Madueke now wears the No.20 shirt for the Gunners, but his initial classification as a non-homegrown player raised eyebrows—especially since Joao Pedro, a Brazilian who just joined Chelsea, is considered homegrown.
Pedro, long linked with a move to Newcastle United, has now joined Enzo Maresca’s Chelsea squad fresh off their Club World Cup triumph, aiming to challenge across all competitions in the 2025/26 season.
Given Madueke’s London roots and his seven senior caps for England, many assumed he’d automatically qualify as homegrown.
However, that wasn’t the case. Premier League clubs must include at least eight homegrown players in their 25-man squads, and the criteria differ slightly from UEFA’s.
UEFA defines a homegrown player as someone trained by a club in the same national association for three years between ages 15 and 21. The Premier League, according to BBC Sport, requires three seasons registered with any FA-affiliated club before turning 21.
Madueke’s stint at PSV Eindhoven during his youth disrupted his eligibility under those rules.
Born in 2002, he began his football journey at Crystal Palace’s academy before moving to Tottenham Hotspur in 2014. In 2018, he joined PSV and later signed for Chelsea in 2023.
Now, he’s made the switch across London to Arsenal, as Mikel Arteta looks to finally end the club’s long wait for silverware.
Madueke is expected to provide depth for Bukayo Saka, who has been heavily relied upon, though it remains to be seen if he’s the missing piece in Arteta’s puzzle.
Meanwhile, Joao Pedro—born in Ribeirao Preto, Brazil—is considered homegrown due to his time at Watford between ages 18 and 21.
During his spell there, he scored 24 goals and registered eight assists in 109 appearances.
At Chelsea, Pedro aims to make a bigger impact but faces competition from Nicolas Jackson and Liam Delap for the lone striker role. So far, he’s netted three goals in three matches.
Despite the initial confusion, The Athletic confirmed on Thursday that Madueke has now been reclassified as a homegrown player in the Premier League.
This change reportedly stemmed from a request made before the end of the 2024–25 season, likely initiated by Chelsea before his exit.
Though Madueke never played for Tottenham’s senior team, the Premier League acknowledged that his three-year tenure in their youth setup meets the homegrown criteria.
The lack of senior appearances may have led to earlier misclassification, causing Chelsea to list him as non-homegrown for most of last season. Previously, he was registered as an Under-21 player.
However, UEFA’s rules differ, meaning Madueke won’t be considered homegrown for Champions League registration.
