Arsenal have extended the contract of young forward Eddie Nketiah ahead of the new season.
In an official statement, Arsenal have confirmed they have extended the contract of Eddie Nketiah. The young striker has signed a “long-term” contract at Emirates, which is presumed to be a five-year deal. It will effectively seal his future in north London on a contractual basis until the summer of 2027.
Nketiah’s extension comes in the midst of intense speculation over his future at the club. The youngster’s initial contract was set to expire at the end of the 2021/22 campaign. He had no shortage of suitors either, with both Chelsea and Liverpool entertaining the possibility of signing him on a free transfer ahead of the new season.
Their interest in Nketiah stemmed from the player’s blazing performances during the final phase of the 2021/22 season. Regarded as one of the most gifted players to come out of the Arsenal academy in recent years, the forward had endured a rather underwhelming campaign in 2021/22, struggling to displace Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang and Alexandre Lacazette in Mikel Arteta’s first-team plans.
However, Aubameyang’s January move to Barcelona paved the way for the 23-year-old to gain a prominent role in the first team. The player was helped by Arsenal’s botched pursuit of Dusan Vlahovic, with the Serbian ending up joining Juventus on a big-money move.
Official, confirmed. Eddie Nketiah signs new Arsenal contract until June 2027 after turning down proposals from Bundesliga and Premier League clubs. ⚪️?? #AFC
New shirt number, not a bad one @EddieNketiah9 1️⃣4️⃣ pic.twitter.com/1bY70ffGlu
— Fabrizio Romano (@FabrizioRomano) June 18, 2022
Nketiah made full use of his opportunities during the second half of the campaign. Especially during the end phase of the season, he netted five goals in the space of seven league matches, including braces in crucial wins over Chelsea and Leeds United.
Although Nketiah’s contributions were not enough to help Arsenal leapfrog Tottenham in the race for the Champions League places, the forward has been promised a key role for the Gunners in the new season and has been handed the #14 jersey donned by club legend Thierry Henry previously. With Lacazette returning to Lyon, the Englishman may also have a new strike partner.
Gabriel Jesus is a name often mentioned in the English press. The Manchester City star already has a good relationship with Arteta and is reportedly closing in on a reunion with the Spaniard at Emirates this summer. He is expected to join forces with Nketiah to spearhead the Arsenal frontline next season.
