On the move: Noni Madueke’s Arsenal transfer will be confirmed shortly
Chelsea Football Newsletter
But he is now set to sign for arch London rivals Arsenal in a deal understood by Standard Sport to be worth £52million.
He leaves Chelsea as a UEFA Conference League champion, but missed out on Club World Cup celebrations after leaving the Blues’ camp early to complete his Arsenal medical.
Addressing Chelsea Football Club, Madueke wrote on Instagram: “I want to thank you for the Last 3 or so years.
“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.
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“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.”
The statement was accompanied by a highlight reel covering his full Chelsea career, including a goal against his future employers Arsenal.
His cross-London transfer has been a rather poorly-kept secret, with Maresca confirming ahead of the Club World Cup final that Madueke had returned to London early.
Speaking from New York, the Italian said: “Yeah, Noni is in contact with the new club. I guess that he’s going to leave in the next hours.
“Noni decided to leave. No one said to Noni: ‘You have to leave’. Noni decided to leave, and if he’s happy, we’re happy.”
His departure comes after Chelsea signed a brace of attacking reinforcements, bringing in Brighton’s Joao Pedro and Borussia Dortmund winger Jamie Gittens.