After capping an incredible 12 months by signing a new contract with us, Ethan Nwaneri can’t wait to see what 2025/26 and beyond will bring.
Having spent a decade at the club already, the 18-year-old will continue his association with us after putting pen to paper on a fresh deal, allowing him to develop his skills at the place where he admits he feels comfortable and secure.
With 37 appearances and nine goals from a breakout campaign last time around under his belt, Ethan is now eyeing up another season in our first-team now his future is secure.
After signing his contract, he revealed: “It means everything to me, I’m so happy to have got it done. This is where I feel at home, and where I’m going to develop the best. I’m ready.
“I’m very excited. I see this as my first real season, and part of a proper squad in the changing room. I’m so excited for what I can bring to the team and how I can help the team.
“I’m a very versatile player, so I think I’m going to play anywhere across the front five, and I’m ready to do what the manager needs.”
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Ethan Nwaneri signs new contract
Having become the Premier League’s youngest-ever player aged 15 years and 181 days back in September 2022, Ethan had already made a name for himself early in his career but it was last season where he really broke into our plans.
From bagging his first two goals for the club against Bolton Wanderers, to netting stunners against Girona and Manchester City, the forward ended a remarkable campaign as our joint-fifth highest scorer. That’s something he’s particularly proud of and hopes to improve as the seasons go on and he learns more about what life in the top-flight.
“I’ve had to adapt to the demands of the Premier League, so I think I’ve changed physically, but also mentally as well in terms of dealing with setbacks and injuries,” he said. “I think I’ve definitely become stronger.
“I think I’ve actually become more direct over the past few years and I’ve added more goals, so I’m excited for what will come next.”
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Enjoy Ethan Nwaneri’s best moments from 24/25
With Ethan and his friend Myles Lewis-Skelly now firmly established in Mikel Arteta’s plans, a new burst of energy can be felt around Hale End as our next batch of youngsters hope to emulate the pair’s feats.
Eight were included on our pre-season tour this summer and they would have been wise to pick Ethan’s brain for his advice and experiences last season. His tip is to take it step by step, and keep pushing as hard as possible to be ready whenever the door opens.
“Keep patient and have goals in your head,” he suggested. “When you’re at Hale End, the next target is to get to the Sobha Realty Training Centre. And when you’re there, it’s to get in the under-21s. Then the first thing was just to keep patient, keep working hard every day at your craft, and have the long-term vision in the back of your head, but just be ready when it comes.
“It’s a good pressure that [the academy players] are going to be watching you, so you need to show them the right things. It means a lot that the young generation is looking up to me now because when I was their age, I was looking up to the Hale End graduates and the Arsenal players in general.
“Reiss [Nelson], Bukayo [Saka], Emile [Smith Rowe] – so many players. Ainsley Maitland-Niles – all these players I was looking up to when I was young. You don’t compare, but you’ve shared something, like a moment. They’ve been where you’ve been, and you’re trying to get to where they are.”
Hear more from Ethan as he discusses the highs and lows of last season, his aims for 25/26 and how his younger brother Emerson is progressing in our academy by pressing play on the video above.
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