Football insiders were convinced ‘special’ talent was going to join Chelsea, but they’ve failed – journalist

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There was a real expectation among football insiders that Ethan Nwaneri would be joining Chelsea or Manchester City this summer before he ended up staying at Arsenal.

That is according to journalist Charles Watts.

Ethan Nwaneri, who’s only 16, was confirmed by Arsenal on their official website as a first-year scholar for the upcoming 2023/24 season.

The teenager broke the record last year as the youngest player to feature in the Gunners first team, coming off the bench as a 15-year-old for the closing stages of a Premier League fixture against Brentford.

Now, the London-born attacker will continue his development with Arsenal at the Emirates Stadium.

The Evening Standard claimed last month that Chelsea and Man City were both looking to tempt Nwaneri to their highly-rated academy.

Unfortunately, the young playmaker has stayed in North London and can sign a professional contract when he turns 17.

Described as “special” by Granit Xhaka (CBS Sports), Nwaneri is definitely a rising star to keep an eye out for.

Speaking with TEAMtalk, journalist Watts explained that various agents were convinced Nwaneri would be leaving Arsenal to go and join Chelsea or Man City.

They both pushed hard to sign the English youngster, but Arsenal are delighted to keep him on their books.

Watts said: “Chelsea and Manchester City did everything they could to turn his head, not just his head, to turn him and everyone around him, which is the way of the world obviously, when it comes to signing these players now.

“Everyone that you spoke to in and around football and various agents who have players around the youth teams… it was pretty well believed he was going to be heading off either to Chelsea or Man City.

“And so for Arsenal to keep him, to convince him, again says a lot about where the club is at the moment, that they’ve managed to keep hold of their best young talents.

“And that I know they are absolutely delighted to keep hold of him and to be able to bat away the interest of Chelsea and Man City to keep him.”