​Arsenal look set to lose academy midfielder Mishel Nduka to Manchester City, with City poised to secure a high-profile addition from the Gunners this summer. Nduka would become City’s second major academy capture of the window, following the arrival of Jeremy Monga, as City continues to build for the future. Arsenal had been eager to keep the teenage talent, but City’s bid appears poised to pry him away.
City’s moves this summer show a dual approach: securing young talent for the long term while pursuing established star signings. Although the club’s headline transfer so far has been the record-breaking £116 million signing of Elliot Anderson from Nottingham Forest, Manchester City have also been quietly assembling a pipeline of promising youngsters to bolster their ranks in the years ahead. As part of this strategy, City have agreed a reported £10 million deal for Leicester City winger Jeremy Monga, a transfer that underscored their intent to hijack rival clubs and demonstrate strength early in the transfer window.
The reported pursuit of Nduka adds to City’s growing reputation as a homegrown talent factory. The 16-year-old midfielder had spent the 2025-26 season with Arsenal, having joined the north London club from Charlton in September 2025. In his first campaign with the Gunners, Nduka featured prominently in youth competition, making ten appearances in the Under-18 Premier League, appearing twice for the Premier League 2 side, and playing once in the UEFA Youth League. His development has also included involvement with England’s Under-16 national team, where he accumulated seven caps and logged 444 minutes on the field, underscoring his potential at the international youth level.
Arsenal’s interest in keeping Nduka was substantial, according to reports, with the club seeking to secure his services beyond his current contract. However, with the terms winding down and interest from other clubs intensifying, City moved decisively to secure his signature, opening the door for a new chapter in his young career. The transfer would be a significant coup for City’s academy, reinforcing their strategy of identifying and developing talent within the UK’s top academies to reinforce the first team in the long term.
City’s early summer activity has sent a clear message: they intend to start the season with a strong, talent-rich academy core. The arrival of Elliot Anderson has already signaled their willingness to invest in players who can grow into impactful senior roles, while Hugo Viana, City’s director of football, is reportedly exploring further additions as Enzo Maresca begins his tenure as manager. In this context, the pursuit of Mishel Nduka fits the broader pattern of a club determined to blend immediate reinforcements with a sustained strategy of nurturing young prospects who can mature into first-team players in the coming years.