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Arsenal teenager joins Premier League rival just a year after poaching him from EFL club

Mikel Arteta during an Arsenal match

Academy star Mishel Nduka has left Arsenal after just one year to join Manchester City.

The 16-year-old joined the Gunners in the summer of 2025 on a scholarship deal from Championship club Charlton Athletic.

Arsenal academy player Mishel Nduka in action during the UEFA Youth League2

Nduka is a very highly rated teenage star

The midfielder had the option to stay in north London with the offer of a deal from Arsenal.

But he turned it down to accept a scholarship contract from Man City instead.

Nduka is seen as a hot prospect for the future and has represented England at youth level and is currently away with their under-17 squad.

Arsenal offered a competitive salary to Nduka, but he has picked the Etihad over the Emirates. He will sign a professional deal with City once he turns 17 in April.

Nduka impressed enough to play for the Under-18s plenty of times last year and made the step up to Premier League 2.

He is expected to mainly play for Man City's Under-18s having come off the bench at the weekend for his new club.

The Citizens won 6-0 and have made a fantastic start to the season, sitting top of the table with a maximum 18 points from their first six matches.

Another starlet slips past Arsenal

Nduka is another talented player who has picked Man City over Arsenal this year.

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The most obvious example is Jeremy Monga, who left Leicester City to join City over Arsenal.

The talented forward had looked set to join the Gunners in the summer with the two clubs agreeing a fee for the winger.

Jeremy Monga signs for Manchester City2

Monga has headed out to join Swansea City for some valuable first-team football

But Arsenal felt it was too high, and they wanted to re-negotiate.

That allowed City to swoop in for Monga, and they agreed to pay the League One side an initial £10million with an additional £2.5m in add-ons.

That made Monga the most expensive 16-year-old in Premier League history.

And in the end, Monga decided that the pathway at City to the first team was clearer.

Speaking after his Man City debut during pre-season, he said: "It [Arsenal interest] was very strong because it was very close to me going there, very close.

"The main decision was probably the pathway and the club itself. They've been so successful that it was a no-brainer when City call. It's every child's dream to win trophies and be at the top with the best.

"Once I get the opportunity I just need to show myself, and once I do that, everything will take care of itself. I feel like, to me personally, I see myself at City more. I see myself in blue."

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