Who is Noni Madueke? Things to know about the English winger

Noni Madueke has attracted plenty of interest from his native England, with Chelsea currently at the top of a long list of suitors which includes the likes of Tottenham and Newcastle.

PSV Eindhoven have already shipped out Cody Gakpo to Liverpool, but he may soon be joined in England by 20-year-old Madueke, who has long been heralded as a potential star of the future.

Here's all you need to know about Madueke.

Noni Madueke's career so far

Born in London, Madueke began his career with Crystal Palace before joining Tottenham's academy in 2014, shining at youth level before taking his talents to PSV in 2018 - a move he says was down to the quicker pathway to senior football.

Madueke has confirmed that he rejected offers from Chelsea and Manchester United to head to PSV, and he had no regrets about doing so as he made his senior debut in January 2020, shortly before he turned 18.

The 2020/21 campaign was Madueke's breakout year as he racked up seven goals and six assists in 24 games, but he struggled to maintain that form as injuries limited his minutes.

He has openly admitted that he wants to return to the Premier League when he does eventually leave PSV.

Internationally, Madueke is eligible for both Nigeria and England but he has dedicated his youth career to the latter, starting out in the Under-15s and turning out for the Under-21s as recently as March 2022.

Noni Madueke's style of play

"I am a bit of a showman," Madueke told Sky Sports when asked to describe himself. "I try to beat players. I am fast. I have an eye for goal. That is how I would describe myself."

A left-footed right winger, Madueke is known for his electric agility and love of beating his defender with quick footwork - something he prides himself on.

"Playing nice, dribbling, that's what I live for," he once admitted.

Madueke primarily lines up on the right wing but has played as a secondary striker, teaming up with Gakpo at the top of Roger Schmidt's 4-2-2-2 setup, but the vast majority of his appearances have come out wide.

Noni Madueke's strengths

Unsurprisingly, Madueke's best assets are his speed and his fast footwork. He's a sensational dribbler who prides himself on his ability to beat a defender.

What sets him apart from other typical wingers, however, is the style with which Madueke bulldozes through defenders. He's no physical machine but the winger loves throwing his body into opponents and challenging them to a real battle.

Madueke gets into the box well and is comfortable shooting or looking for the pass when he does get there. He has credited PSV boss Ruud van Nistelrooy for turning him into a real threat in the penalty area.

Noni Madueke's weaknesses

While many of Madueke's weaknesses can be attributed to his youth and relative inexperience, the darkest cloud which hangs over his head is his ability to stay healthy.

Madueke recently missed 18 games with an ankle injury which he picked up just weeks after returning from his fourth muscle injury of the 2021/22 campaign, all of which saw him miss 25 matches across the season.

The youngster admits that proving his longevity is the biggest test facing him, but he is relishing the chance to prove his doubters wrong.

Noni Madueke's childhood team

A London boy, Madueke's childhood allegiances actually lay further afield as the former Tottenham youngster was a Manchester United supporter growing up.

Unsurprisingly, he names Cristiano Ronaldo as his childhood idol, making him one of countless players to have based their playstyle on the Al Nassr man.