Manchester City eye teenager Mishel Nduka, a target for five Premier League clubs

Manchester City have entered the race for Mishel Nduka, a 16-year-old midfielder who is leaving Arsenal’s academy at the end of his contract this summer. The player is regarded as one of the best young holding midfielders in England in his age group, and the interest keeps growing.

The situation: Arsenal offer a renewal, City want to steal the show

Arsenal have already put a contract-renewal proposal to the player, but City are working behind the scenes to convince him to cross the country to Manchester. They are not alone in this race. Manchester United, Tottenham Hotspur and Liverpool are also monitoring the situation, and more clubs are expected to join the chase once it becomes clear that Nduka will not remain at Hale End after the summer.

For a 16-year-old, attracting this level of interest from top Premier League clubs is an unmistakable sign of talent. Sources close to English youth football describe him as one of the best midfielders in his category in the country. City are set to lose a few young midfielders in the same window: Xavier Parker and David Eze look almost certain to leave the Etihad Stadium, with direct league rivals already negotiating their signings. Nduka therefore emerges not as a speculative gamble, but as a planned reinforcement in the academy midfield.

It is a move that reveals a lot about how the big English clubs approach the young-talent market. The summer of 2025 promises to be busy in this segment – overhauls at the academies of Arsenal and other teams should release a wave of promising players, and everyone wants to get there first.

What lies ahead

Nduka’s decision has not yet been taken, at least publicly. Renewing with Arsenal would mean staying at a top club with a renowned development setup. But accepting an offer from City – or from any other suitor – would open a different path, with other development promises and, most likely, more generous figures in the contract.

The window is going to heat up. And the longer Arsenal take to close the deal, the greater the chances of losing yet another gem from their own academy to a direct competitor.