ARSENAL completed the transfer of Chelsea forward Noni Madueke today, who becomes Mikel Arteta’s fourth signing of the summer.

The 23-year-old is understood to have signed a five-year deal at Ashburton Grove, taking him through to the summer of 2030.

It is expected that England international Madueke will provide competition to Bukayo Saka and Gabriel Martinelli in Arsenal’s wide areas.

Madueke’s move across London has been met with severe criticism by Arsenal supporters on social media. A petition against the transfer has attracted more than 5,000 signatures.

Addressing the “vulgar” toxicity on X, former Manchester United and England captain Rio Ferdinand wrote: “For a young 23-year-old English footballer to be vilified, bullied, embarrassed and totally stripped down at a time when you’re meant to be celebrating a transfer worth £55 million.

“To be treated in this manner via a section of the Arsenal fan base is an utter disgrace.

“Just put yourself in his shoes for one minute. Just put yourself in his parents shoes for one minute, and just think of how that feeling must be. I just hope the people that are closest to him are around him and supporting him in the way that he needs right now.

“It’s fine for fans to disagree with signings or decisions made at their football club but the way some fans have publicly voiced their opinions and those who have gone a step further in publicly joining a petition for this player not to be signed by their football club is beyond me.

“I just hope Noni Madueke rams all of this negativity back down the throats of these impostors.”

Madueke will join up with his new team-mates when they depart for their tour of Singapore and Hong Kong this evening.