Arsenal Eyes Noni Madueke: Which Jersey Number Could the Winger Claim?
Arsenal have been actively strengthening their roster during the last two weeks, with Chelsea's Noni Madueke set to become their latest signing.
The North London club has reached an agreement for a £52 million ($70.6 million) transfer fee for the England winger, making him the second player to move from Stamford Bridge to the Emirates Stadium this summer following Kepa Arrizabalaga's recent transfer.
Attacking player injuries hindered Arsenal's momentum in the latter part of last season, but Madueke's signing offers the promise of essential depth in attacking wide areas. His arrival comes at the perfect time to participate in pre-season training with the Gunners and he might feature in their first friendly match against AC Milan on July 23, depending on his recovery needs following the FIFA Club World Cup.
Arsenal supporters will be eager to see Madueke's debut appearance in the club's colors, but which number will he sport on his jersey?
Noni Madueke Shirt Number History
Madueke began his professional journey at PSV Eindhoven after making the unusual transition from England to the Netherlands during his youth development. After showing promise in brief appearances during the 2019–20 campaign, the winger changed from his number 56 to 23 in the subsequent season as his role in the first team expanded.
Madueke's outstanding displays led to a promotion in 2021–22 when he received the prestigious number 10 shirt, which he retained until his departure from the club during the middle of the next season.
Due to Chelsea's overcrowded roster at that time, they couldn't offer Madueke a particularly notable number upon his arrival. The former Tottenham Hotspur academy graduate initially wore number 31 but only made 12 official appearances in that shirt before switching to number 11 for the 2023–24 campaign. He has maintained that number ever since.
When representing England, Madueke has worn various numbers, including the 23 he used at PSV. Most recently, however, he has appeared wearing number 19.
Arsenal Available Shirt Numbers
Although there aren't many prestigious numbers available for Madueke, several attractive options exist. The number 10, which he previously wore in Eindhoven, became available following Emile Smith Rowe's transfer to Fulham last summer. Dennis Bergkamp, Robin van Persie, and Mesut Özil are among the notable players who have worn this shirt.
Arsenal icon Thierry Henry made the number 14 legendary in north London, and Madueke could inherit that legacy. Eddie Nketiah was the most recent wearer of this jersey, preceded by Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang and Theo Walcott.
Numbers 3 and 5 are available but would be highly unusual selections for an attacking player, while 18 and 20 represent more realistic possibilities. Numbers 25, 26, 27, 28, and 30 are also unoccupied.
Arsenal's other summer acquisitions have already announced their shirt numbers, with marquee signing Martín Zubimendi choosing the No.36 shirt—the same number he initially wore at Real Sociedad. Former Chelsea goalkeeper Kepa has selected No.13—a common choice for substitute keepers—and Christian Nørgaard has chosen No.16.