Arsenal have confirmed the signing of 17-year-old left-back Marcell Washington from Chelsea, following an impressive trial period with their under-21 side last season.
The teenager featured in eight games while on trial and did enough to earn a professional contract, with former under-21s head coach Mehmet Ali reportedly playing a key role in securing the deal.
Washington, who plays as a left-back, comes from a strong footballing pedigree. He is the son of former England international Ryan Bertrand, who enjoyed a successful Premier League career with clubs including Chelsea, Southampton, and Leicester City.
Bertrand was part of the Chelsea squad that won the UEFA Champions League in 2012 and earned 19 caps for England during his playing career.
With such a legacy behind him, Washington will be hoping to carve out his own path at Arsenal and eventually break into the senior team.
His development will be closely watched by fans and coaches alike as the Gunners continue to invest in youth as part of their long-term strategy.
The teenage defender is not the only Chelsea player set to make the move to North London this summer. Arsenal are also close to finalizing a deal for England international forward Noni Madueke.
The winger, currently with Chelsea, is expected to join the Gunners as part of the club’s ongoing efforts to strengthen their attacking options.
Chelsea reportedly attempted to include 15-year-old Max Dowman as part of the proposed Madueke deal, but Arsenal rejected the approach.
Dowman is considered one of the brightest young talents at the club and is currently training with Mikel Arteta’s first-team squad ahead of their pre-season tour.
“I think it’s been such an honour to have him take me through clips and walk me through games that I’ve played,”
“He’s really passionate about making me a better player and probably a better version of him. We might have a bit of an argument about it but you get it out of him. “
Marcell said on his signing day via the official club website
Meanwhile, concerns are growing over the future of highly-rated midfielder Ethan Nwaneri. Talks over a contract extension with the 17-year-old have stalled, and Chelsea are among the clubs monitoring the situation closely. Arsenal fans will be hopeful that the club can retain Nwaneri, especially after losing other top youth prospects Ayden Heaven and Chido Obi to Manchester United earlier this year.
Securing Nwaneri’s future is seen as vital, given his potential and the strides he has already made at such a young age. Negotiations are expected to continue in the coming weeks as Arsenal aim to reach an agreement and avoid another high-profile youth departure.
As Arsenal prepare for the upcoming season, the club’s youth recruitment drive and contract management will remain central to their plans, with a strong focus on building a squad capable of long-term success.
