Arsenal wonderkid Ethan Nwaneri signs new long-term contract

Arsenal have confirmed that teenage midfielder Ethan Nwaneri has signed a new long-term deal with the club.

The 17-year-old, who joined Arsenal’s academy at the age of eight, made history in 2022 when he became the youngest player to appear for the club’s men’s team — and the youngest player in English top-flight history — at 15 years and 181 days.

In a statement on Friday, the club said: “Our highly talented attacking midfielder, who has been with us since the age of eight, has committed his future to the club following his impressive rise through our Hale End Academy and into the first team.”

Nwaneri made 37 appearances last season for Arsenal, scoring nine goals across all competitions. Sixteen of those appearances were starts.

His first senior goals came in the League Cup against Bolton Wanderers and Preston North End, before netting his first Premier League goal against Nottingham Forest in November.

In January, he joined Michael Owen and Wayne Rooney as the only players to score three Premier League goals before turning 18. He also scored in the Champions League against Girona, a strike that earned Arsenal’s Goal of the Month award.

Nwaneri was also named Arsenal’s Player of the Month for February, which included a standout performance and goal in a 5-1 win over Manchester City.

The club praised his rapid rise through the youth ranks, noting that he made his England U-18 debut on his 18th birthday in May, before going on to help England win the UEFA Under-21 Championship in June 2025.

Reacting to the new deal, Nwaneri said: “Signing this contract means everything to me. I see this as my first real season in men’s senior football, as part of the squad in the changing room.

“I’m so excited for what I can bring to the team. I want to help us win as much as possible and bring happiness and glory to the club. This is where I feel at home.”