Arsenal midfielder Declan Rice appears to have subtly revealed his excitement about the club’s unexpected pursuit of Chelsea winger Noni Madueke, who is reportedly on the verge of becoming Mikel Arteta’s latest signing in a busy summer window.
The Gunners have already made headlines this window by landing long-term Liverpool target Martín Zubimendi for nearly £60 million. Now, they seem poised to complete a surprise £52 million move for Madueke—Chelsea’s dynamic 23-year-old attacker.
If the transfer goes through, Madueke would become the 10th player to swap Stamford Bridge for the Emirates, following Spanish goalkeeper Kepa Arrizabalaga’s £5 million switch earlier this summer.
Fans React, Rice Approves
Despite the winger’s obvious talent, the potential transfer has stirred mixed reactions among the Arsenal faithful. Some fans have even launched an online petition opposing the deal, questioning whether the former PSV Eindhoven star is the right fit for Arteta’s system.
But within the Arsenal camp, there seems to be optimism—at least from one of the dressing room leaders.
Declan Rice, Arsenal’s vice-captain and England teammate of Madueke, was quick to engage with Fabrizio Romano’s ‘Here We Go’ post on Instagram that confirmed the advanced stage of the deal. Rice liked both the initial announcement and a follow-up video detailing the agreement—an action many fans took as a clear sign of approval from the midfield general.
International Connection
Rice and Madueke have shared the pitch for England on five occasions during the 2024/25 season, combining well in matches during the UEFA Nations League and World Cup qualifiers. Their growing chemistry has been evident not only on the field but also across social media, with the duo posting photos together and Rice even praising Madueke after a standout performance against Andorra.
The two players have also faced off domestically. As opponents, they’ve clashed four times, including a memorable 5–0 win for Arsenal over Chelsea in the 2023/24 Premier League campaign.
With Madueke set to add attacking depth and flair to Arteta’s frontline, and Rice seemingly giving the green light, all eyes now turn to Arsenal for an official confirmation.
