Manchester City have reached an agreement to sign highly-rated Arsenal academy midfielder Mishel Nduka after the teenager rejected the Gunners’ offer of a new long-term contract.
The 16-year-old is expected to complete a medical before officially joining City’s academy on scholarship terms, with a professional contract anticipated when he becomes eligible.
Nduka is regarded as one of England’s most promising young midfield prospects and has represented his country at youth level.
Arsenal had hoped to retain the teenager and are understood to have presented him with what was considered a competitive long-term proposal.
However, the midfielder has opted to continue his development at Manchester City instead.
Nduka joined Arsenal from Charlton Athletic in 2025 and quickly progressed through the club’s academy system.
During the 2025-26 campaign, he featured regularly for Arsenal’s Under-18 side while also earning valuable experience with the Under-21s in Premier League 2 despite his young age.
His rapid rise underlined why Arsenal were so keen to keep hold of him.
Instead, City appear set to add another highly-rated youngster to an academy that has become increasingly aggressive in recruiting elite youth talent from across England.
The Premier League champions have invested heavily in youth development in recent years, combining state-of-the-art facilities with a clear pathway designed to attract the country’s best prospects.
Nduka’s expected arrival follows City’s recent capture of Jeremy Monga from Leicester City.
Arsenal had also monitored Monga, but the north London club chose not to match Leicester’s valuation, allowing City to complete the deal.
City have also strengthened further at academy level with the expected arrival of Aston Villa youngster Heaven Kilwa after he declined a scholarship offer from his current club.
For Arsenal, Nduka’s departure represents another reminder of the increasingly competitive battle between elite academies for the brightest young talent.
The Gunners have built one of England’s strongest youth systems in recent years, producing first-team players including Ethan Nwaneri and Myles Lewis-Skelly, while several other academy graduates have progressed into senior football.
Despite losing Nduka, Arsenal remain committed to developing young players as part of the club’s long-term strategy under Mikel Arteta and academy manager Per Mertesacker.
Young talent continues to be viewed as a cornerstone of Arsenal’s future planning, both for strengthening the first team and maintaining one of the Premier League’s most productive academies.
Nevertheless, City’s latest academy recruitment is another notable setback for Arsenal, with one of Hale End’s brightest midfield prospects now seemingly set to continue his development at one of their biggest domestic rivals.
