'Nothing but fond memories' - Noni Madueke posts emotional goodbye message to Chelsea as transfer to London rivals Arsenal nears

Arsenal had been exploring options to bolster their flanks throughout the summer window. With questions lingering about their squad depth in wide areas, particularly behind Bukayo Saka and Gabriel Martinelli, the Gunners identified Madueke as a versatile attacking threat who could contribute on either wing.

Despite joining Chelsea with plenty of promise and fanfare, Madueke never fully settled into a consistent role at the club. His debut season was marred by injuries and irregular appearances, and while flashes of brilliance emerged, they were too often offset by inconsistency. His numbers were modest during his tenure - 20 goals and nine assists in 92 appearances - and with Chelsea undergoing another summer overhaul under Enzo Maresca, the club was open to parting ways if the right offer came along.

In a touching farewell shared via Instagram, Madueke addressed the club, teammates, coaching staff and supporters with sincere appreciation.

He wrote on Instagram: "Dear Chelsea Football Club, I want to thank you for the Last 3 or so years. To every staff member that helped me along this journey, thank you. To my teammates thank you for everything, I leave with only love and admiration for you guys.

"We achieved so much this season and I honestly wish you guys nothing but the best. To Enzo Maresca, it was a privilege to play under you, thank you for trying to better me as a player and as a person. Lastly thank you to every single Chelsea fan. Thank you for the love, the praise and also the criticism, I appreciate it all. I leave here with nothing but fond memories. Love NM11."

As he prepares to take on a new challenge at Arsenal, Madueke will be looking to finally establish himself in the Premier League. With Arsenal continuing to push for major honours both domestically and in Europe, Madueke will be eager to prove that he can be a valuable asset to a side competing at the highest level. The pressure will be on, especially given the size of the transfer fee and the expectations that come with it.