Marc Cucurella Criticizes Timing of Noni Madueke’s Arsenal Switch

Marc Cucurella calls Noni Madueke’s exit a missed transfer opportunity” as Chelsea celebrate Club World Cup glory without him.

Chelsea defender Marc Cucurella has publicly expressed his bewilderment over Noni Madueke’s recent £52 million transfer to Arsenal, calling the timing “strange” and suggesting the winger walked away and missed a golden opportunity to make history with the Blues.

Madueke’s departure came just days before Chelsea’s triumphant 3–0 victory over Paris Saint-Germain in the Club World Cup final. Despite playing in five of the six matches leading up to the final, the 23-year-old left the squad early to finalize his move to Arsenal.

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Cucurella, speaking during a Q&A at his football academy in Spain, didn’t mince words:

“Yes, I think so. I think he missed a good opportunity (although) he wasn’t playing as a starter. It wouldn’t have cost him anything to wait for that next day. In the end, I think he missed a pretty good opportunity”.

Chelsea went on to lift the revamped Club World Cup trophy, with Pedro Neto and Cole Palmer stepping in on the flanks during the final. The win was made even more surreal by the presence of former U.S. President Donald Trump, who unexpectedly remained on stage during the trophy presentation—a moment Cucurella described as “scared s*less”.

While Madueke hasn’t directly responded to Cucurella’s remarks, he did post a heartfelt farewell to Chelsea fans on Instagram, thanking teammates and staff for their support.

Now at Arsenal, he’s signed a five-year deal through 2030 and expressed excitement about joining Mikel Arteta’s squad, saying:

“I’m really happy and really proud… It’s already a great team with a clear identity and I can’t wait to bring my style to the team”.

Madueke joins a growing list of players making the switch from Stamford Bridge to the Emirates, including Kepa Arrizabalaga. His move is part of Arsenal’s aggressive summer revamp, which also includes signings like Martin Zubimendi and Christian Norgaard.