Kyran Thompson has agreed to join Tottenham and Leicester wonderkid Jeremy Monga, once considered destined for the Emirates, opted for Manchester City instead. Now Nduka looks set to follow Monga to the Etihad, says the Daily Mail.
The 16-year-old's scholarship terms expired on June 30, and despite Arsenal's efforts to tie him down with improved terms, he has chosen to leave. City are understood to view Nduka as a potential replacement should they lose two of their own midfielders this summer, and moved decisively once his contract situation became clear. Manchester United, Liverpool and Tottenham were also aware of the situation but are said to be prioritising other targets, leaving City as the clear favourites.
Nduka only joined Arsenal's academy in September 2025, arriving after eight years at Charlton Athletic, but made a rapid impression on both coaches and scouts: two appearances for the Under-21s last season, a UEFA Youth League outing against Club Brugge in December, and 10 games for the Under-18s in an age group above his own, where he regularly impressed against older opposition.
He has also won seven caps for England's Under-16s. Comparisons to Bayern Munich's Jamal Musiala have already followed him around, an early indication of how highly he is regarded despite his age.
The wave of departures comes at a turbulent time for Arsenal's youth setup, with the exit of long-serving academy manager Per Mertesacker likely to have complicated recent negotiations with several young players.
The club moved last week to appoint Strasbourg's Pascal De Maesschalck as the new academy director, a step intended to steady operations and stem further losses among the club's most promising prospects, with Nduka's exit likely to sharpen focus on retaining the academy's remaining standout talents before more contracts come up for renewal.