Noni Madueke swapped Chelsea for Arsenal this summer and an ex-teammate’s comment has caused a stir
Madueke Swaps Chelsea for Arsenal in £48.5m Move After Maresca Rift
Noni Madueke’s Chelsea career has come to an abrupt end after just 18 months, with the winger sealing a controversial £48.5m transfer to Arsenal.
Signed from PSV Eindhoven in January 2023 for £28.5m, Madueke hit the ground running this season under Enzo Maresca, netting a hat-trick against Wolves in August. But his bright start quickly dimmed — by December, he had lost his starting spot, with Maresca publicly challenging him to “work harder” to regain it.
Chelsea’s summer signings of João Pedro and Liam Delap pushed Madueke further down the pecking order, prompting his move across London.
The transfer has divided opinion among Arsenal fans, with some even launching a petition to block the deal — a reaction criticised by Gunners midfielder Declan Rice, who called for supporters to back their new signing.
Chelsea Academy Star Trolls Madueke After Arsenal Debut
Noni Madueke made his first outing for Arsenal in a pre-season friendly against Villarreal, earning praise from supporters after replacing Gabriel Martinelli on the left wing.
The England international took to Instagram to thank his new fans, writing:
“Thank you Arsenal fans for the warm welcome yesterday. Playing at the Emirates for the first time as an Arsenal player felt so special.”
But it wasn’t Madueke’s words that sparked conversation — it was the cheeky comment left by Chelsea U15 prospect Heze Grimwade. The academy star replied: “Looked better in blue 👀”, prompting a wave of reactions from Blues fans.
Supporters were quick to join the banter:
- “Proper Chels.”
- “Blue is the colour, so he’s just speaking facts.”
- “Eye emojis and heart emojis… it’s clearly friendly banter.”
Grimwade, already making appearances for Chelsea’s U18s, is highly rated within the Cobham setup — and has now earned extra points among fans for his playful dig at the former Blue.
Chelsea Fans React After Academy Star Trolls Noni Madueke on Instagram
Chelsea supporters were left amused after one of the club’s academy players cheekily commented on Noni Madueke’s Instagram following his Arsenal debut.
Madueke’s time at Stamford Bridge lasted just 18 months after joining from PSV Eindhoven for around £28.5m in January 2023. The winger began last season in blistering form under Enzo Maresca, even netting a hat-trick against Wolves in August, but by December had lost his place in the starting XI. Maresca publicly challenged him to “work harder” to win his spot back, and with Chelsea signing João Pedro and Liam Delap over the summer, Madueke opted for a £48.5m move to rivals Arsenal.
The transfer wasn’t universally welcomed by Gunners fans — some even started a petition to block it — but Madueke impressed in his first appearance for Mikel Arteta’s side during a pre-season clash with Villarreal, coming on for Gabriel Martinelli on the left wing.
After the game, the England international posted:
“Thank you Arsenal fans for the warm welcome yesterday. Playing at the Emirates for the first time as an Arsenal player felt so special.”
It was a comment from Chelsea U15 prospect Heze Grimwade that really grabbed Blues fans’ attention. The youngster wrote: “Looked better in blue 👀”, sparking plenty of lighthearted replies.
- “Proper Chels,” wrote one fan.
- “Blue is the colour — just speaking facts,” added another.
- “Eye emojis and heart emojis… clearly friendly banter,” a third joked.
Grimwade, already featuring for Chelsea’s U18s, is highly regarded within the Cobham academy.
Arteta, meanwhile, praised Madueke’s versatility after his debut, saying:
“Noni is comfortable on both wings, offers real threat, and delivers pace and quality in the box. He’s a great option for us.”
