# Ethan Nwaneri

Ethan Chidiebere Nwaneri (born 21 March 2007) is an English professional footballer who plays as a right winger or attacking midfielder for Premier League club Arsenal.
Born in North London, Nwaneri joined the Arsenal Academy at the age of eight. He made his Premier League debut against Brentford on 18 September 2022, becoming the youngest player to appear in the top flight of English football, at 15 years and 181 days old.

## Early life and education

Ethan Chidiebere Nwaneri was born on 21 March 2007 in Enfield, London to a Nigerian father, of Igbo origin, and an English mother. He attended St John's Senior School in Enfield.

## Club career

Nwaneri joined Arsenal at the age of eight. By the age of 14, he was already playing for their under-18 side. Predominantly, he plays as a midfielder.

### 2022–23 season

Nwaneri started the 2022–23 season playing for Arsenal under-18s, but he was quickly advanced to the club's under-21 side. Having made a sole appearance in the 2022–23 Premier League 2, he joined the first team for training in September, and made his first senior matchday squad on 18 September when he was named as a substitute for the Premier League match against Brentford. Coming off the bench to replace Fábio Vieira in second-half stoppage time, he became the youngest player to ever appear in the Premier League at the age of 15 years and 181 days – breaking the record previously held by Harvey Elliott, and the all-time English top-flight record held since August 1964 by former Sunderland goalkeeper Derek Forster, by three days. He also became Arsenal's youngest-ever player in any competition, breaking the previous record of 16 years and 177 days, set by Cesc Fàbregas in the 2003–04 League Cup. In the post-match press conference, manager Mikel Arteta explained that they had to name Nwaneri and two other under-21 players on the bench because the first team had several injuries, especially the injury of midfielder and captain Martin Ødegaard, and a "gut feeling" was behind his decision to send Nwaneri on.
In June 2023, with his schoolboy terms ending, Nwaneri agreed to a new deal with Arsenal on scholarship terms with an agreement for a professional contract upon his seventeenth birthday on 21 March 2024.

### 2023–24 season

Nwaneri played as a substitute in the 2023–24 season in the Premier League in Arsenal's 6–0 win away against West Ham United, coming on in the 77th minute. In the post-match press conference, Arteta mentioned "the players on the bench whispering to bring Ethan on, which is a great thing to hear".

### 2024–25 season

On 25 September 2024, Nwaneri scored his first senior goals when he netted a brace against Bolton Wanderers in the third round of the EFL Cup, helping the Gunners to a 5–1 victory. He scored an outside-the-box shot against Preston North End in the following round. He scored his first goal in the Premier League on 23 November in Arsenal's 3–0 win home against Nottingham Forest after getting subbed on in the 82nd-minute. This made him the ninth-youngest goalscorer in the league's history at 17 years, 247 days old.
On 4 January 2025, Nwaneri scored in a 1–1 draw against Brighton & Hove Albion, becoming the third player to score at least five goals in a season before turning 18, following Michael Owen and Wayne Rooney. Later that month, on 29 January, he netted his first UEFA Champions League goal, securing a 2–1 away win over Girona. Four days later, on 2 February, Nwaneri scored the fifth and final goal in a 5–1 win over Manchester City, curling in a stoppage-time strike from just outside the penalty box. Nwaneri was named Man of the Match following his performance against Leicester City, where he hit the woodwork twice and provided an assist for Mikel Merino in the 2–0 victory.

## International career

Nwaneri is eligible to represent Nigeria through his parents, but has chosen to represent England at the youth level. After starring in qualifying, Nwaneri was named in the England squad for the 2023 UEFA European Under-17 Championship on 17 May 2023. He scored the winner in the opening match against Croatia at Balmazújvárosi Városi Sportpálya.
On 2 November 2023, Nwaneri was included in the England squad for the 2023 FIFA U-17 World Cup. He scored his only goal of the tournament in their opening group game against New Caledonia in Jakarta. Nwaneri also played in the other group fixtures against Iran and Brazil. He came off the bench as a substitute during their round of sixteen defeat against Uzbekistan.
On 20 May 2024, Nwaneri was included in the England squad for the 2024 UEFA European Under-17 Championship. He once again scored in the opening game of the tournament, this time a 4–0 win over France in Larnaca. Nwaneri also scored in a group stage victory over Spain. His third and last goal of the competition came in their quarter-final elimination against Italy.

## Style of play

Nwaneri has been labelled as a player who can operate as a "number 10" but can play every attacking position, with an innate capacity to receive and dribble with the ball at his feet while also contributing defensively. He is comfortable in both wide and central roles.

## Career statistics

    As of match played 16 March 2025
Appearances and goals by club, season and competition :
| Club | Season | League | League | League | FA Cup | FA Cup | EFL Cup | EFL Cup | Europe | Europe | Other | Other | Total | Total |
| Club | Season | Division | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals |
| Arsenal U21 | 2022–23 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 2 | 0 | 2 | 0 |
| Arsenal U21 | 2023–24 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 2 | 0 | 2 | 0 |
| Arsenal U21 | Total | Total | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 4 | 0 | 4 | 0 |
| Arsenal | 2022–23 | Premier League | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | — | 1 | 0 |
| Arsenal | 2023–24 | Premier League | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| Arsenal | 2024–25 | Premier League | 19 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 3 | 6 | 2 | — | — | 29 | 8 |
| Arsenal | Total | Total | 21 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 3 | 6 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 31 | 8 |
| Career total | Career total | Career total | 21 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 3 | 6 | 2 | 4 | 0 | 35 | 8 |
* 1 2 Appearances in EFL Trophy
* ↑ Appearances in UEFA Champions League

## Honours

Arsenal U21
* FA Youth Cup runner-up: 2022–23