Ethan Nwaneri facts for kids
Nwaneri in 2024
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| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Date of birth | 21 March 2007 | ||
| Place of birth | Enfield, England | ||
| Height | 5 feet 9 inches (1.76 m) | ||
| Playing position | Attacking midfielder | ||
| Club information | |||
| Current club | Arsenal | ||
| Number | 53 | ||
| Youth career | |||
| 2015–2024 | Arsenal | ||
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps† | (Gls)† |
| 2022– | Arsenal | 15 | (2) |
| National team‡ | |||
| 2022 | England U16 | 6 | (1) |
| 2022–2024 | England U17 | 28 | (15) |
| 2024– | England U19 | 9 | (6) |
† Appearances (Goals). |
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Ethan Chidiebere Nwaneri (born on March 21, 2007) is a young English footballer. He plays as an attacking midfielder for the famous Premier League team, Arsenal. Ethan is known for being one of the youngest players to ever play in the top English football league.
Born in North London, Ethan joined the Arsenal Academy when he was very young. He made his first Premier League appearance in September 2022. At just 15 years old, he became the youngest player ever for Arsenal and the youngest to play in England's top football division.
Contents
Early Life and Education
Ethan Chidiebere Nwaneri was born on March 21, 2007. His birthplace was Enfield, a part of London. He went to St John's Senior School in Enfield.
Club Career at Arsenal
Ethan Nwaneri joined Arsenal when he was only eight years old. He quickly showed great talent. By the time he was 14, he was already playing for Arsenal's under-18 team. He mostly plays in the middle of the field as a midfielder.
Breaking Records at a Young Age
Ethan started the 2022–23 season playing for Arsenal's under-18 team. But he was so good that he quickly moved up to the under-21 squad. After playing just one game for the under-21s, he began training with the main first team.
On September 18, 2022, Ethan was named as a substitute for a Premier League match against Brentford. He came into the game near the end, replacing Fábio Vieira. This moment made history!
- He became the youngest player ever to appear in the Premier League. He was only 15 years and 181 days old. This broke the record held by Harvey Elliott.
- He also broke the record for the youngest player in England's top football league, a record that had stood since 1964!
- Ethan also became Arsenal's youngest player ever in any competition. He broke the record set by Cesc Fàbregas in 2003.
Arsenal's manager, Mikel Arteta, explained why he put Ethan in the game. He said the team had many injured players. He also mentioned he had a "gut feeling" that it was the right time for Ethan to play.
New Contract and Recent Success
In June 2023, Ethan agreed to a new deal with Arsenal. This deal meant he would continue playing for them as a scholarship player. It also included a professional contract when he turned 17 on March 21, 2024.
During the 2023–24 season, Ethan played as a substitute again. This was in a Premier League game where Arsenal won 6–0 against West Ham United. The manager, Mikel Arteta, shared that the other players on the bench were "whispering to bring Ethan on," which showed how much they believed in him.
On September 25, 2024, Ethan scored his first goals for the senior team. He scored two goals against Bolton Wanderers in the EFL Cup. This helped Arsenal win 5–1. He then scored another goal from outside the box against Preston North End in the next round.
Ethan scored his first Premier League goal on November 23, 2024. This was in Arsenal's 3-0 win against Nottingham Forest. He came into the game in the 82nd minute. This goal made him the ninth-youngest goalscorer in the league's history. He was 17 years and 247 days old. Ethan also has the third most goals for Arsenal before turning 18, with a total of 5 goals.
International Career
Ethan Nwaneri can play for Nigeria because of his parents. However, he chose to represent England at the youth level.
Playing for England's Youth Teams
He played very well in qualifying games for England's under-17 team. He was chosen for the 2023 UEFA European Under-17 Championship in May 2023. He scored the winning goal in England's first match against Croatia.
In November 2023, Ethan was part of the England squad for the 2023 FIFA U-17 World Cup. He scored his only goal in this tournament against New Caledonia. He also played in other group games against Iran and Brazil. He came on as a substitute when England lost to Uzbekistan.
Ethan was also selected for the 2024 UEFA European Under-17 Championship in May 2024. He scored in the first game again, helping England win 4–0 against France. He also scored in a group stage win against Spain. His third goal in this competition came in the quarter-final match where England was knocked out by Italy.
How Ethan Nwaneri Plays
Ethan Nwaneri is known as a "number 10" player. This means he is good at creating chances for his team to score. He can play in many attacking positions. He is very good at receiving the ball and dribbling with it. He also helps his team by playing defense. Ethan is comfortable playing both on the sides of the field and in the middle.
Career Statistics
| Club | Season | League | FA Cup | EFL Cup | Europe | Other | Total | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Division | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | ||
| Arsenal U21 | 2022–23 | — | — | — | — | 2 | 0 | 2 | 0 | |||||
| 2023–24 | — | — | — | — | 2 | 0 | 2 | 0 | ||||||
| Total | — | — | — | — | 4 | 0 | 4 | 0 | ||||||
| Arsenal | 2022–23 | Premier League | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | 1 | 0 | |
| 2023–24 | Premier League | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | |
| 2024–25 | Premier League | 12 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 3 | 4 | 0 | — | 19 | 5 | ||
| Total | 14 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 3 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 21 | 5 | ||
| Career total | 14 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 3 | 4 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 25 | 5 | ||
Awards and Achievements
Arsenal U21
- FA Youth Cup runner-up: 2022–23
See also
In Spanish: Ethan Nwaneri para niños
