Arsenal are set to announce the signing of Noni Madueke from Chelsea for £52 million.
The Gunners have been keen on adding a deputy for Bukayo Saka to their squad for some time, chasing the likes of Bryan Mbeumo and Johan Bakayoko in the last 12 months.
Andrea Berta has opted for Madueke, moving quickly and decisively to acquire the undervalued Chelsea star’s services.
Madueke has passed his medical, with the deal signed and sealed, and with an announcement now imminent.
Noni Madueke set to take the number 20 shirt at Arsenal
With all the formalities for Madueke now completed, the winger has been tasked with picking one of the vacant squad numbers at the Emirates.
Despite ten and the iconic 14 being available, the 23-year-old has chosen the number 20 shirt, according to IamCrisJ on Twitter.
A leaked image of the player smiling in an Arsenal shirt has also emerged, with this photograph likely to become public very soon.
Madueke wore 11 at Chelsea, although this number is held by Gabriel Martinelli at Arsenal, and he was thus forced to look elsewhere.
At PSV, the England international wore 23, worn by Mikel Merino in North London, and ten, which prompted many fans to speculate whether he’d take this prestigious number.
Arsenal number 20 shirt number history
Jorginho left Arsenal this summer, leaving the number 20 shirt vacant after he’d represented it for two-and-a-half years.
Prior to the Italian, Nuno Tavares wore number 20 for a season in N5.
| Arsenal number 20 shirt number history | |
| Player | Years Worn |
| Jorginho | 2023-2025 |
| Nuno Tavares | 2021-2022 |
| Shkodran Mustafi | 2016-2021 |
| Mathieu Flamini | 2013-2016 |
| Johan Djourou | 2006-2013 |
| Philippe Senderos | 2003-2006 |
Before this, the unpopular Shkodran Mustafi donned the 20 shirt for five years, and Madueke will certainly hope he doesn’t follow in the German’s footsteps with his performances at the Emirates.
The likes of Mathieu Flamini, Johan Djourou and Philippe Senderos all wore the number 20 before Mustafi, with Madueke breaking the mould of the shirt being worn by more defensively oriented players.
from Arsenal Transfer News | Rumours, Deals & Targets | Arsenal Insider
Alfie Cairns Culshaw