Ryan McAidoo has already whet Arsenal’s appetite as exciting footage emerges

Thrilling footage has emerged of highly-rated Chelsea youngster Ryan McAidoo amid Arsenal’s transfer interest in the Blues starlet.

News that Arsenal have ‘made a proposal’ to sign McAidoo from Chelsea, and are now ‘leading the race’ for his signature, could be a wildly exciting development for Mikel Arteta and Arsenal, based on what the youngster has done so far in his short career. Reports state that the Blues youngster is expected to leave Stamford Bridge this summer with Arsenal now waiting in the wings.

The winger, who also looks a solid fit in midfield, is a hugely promising talent who has shown glimpses of his enormous potential. The young ace scored a wonder strike against Manchester City U17 in March with the attacking midfielder receiving the ball and holding off his man before curling one into the top corner.

Despite the Chelsea player being just 15, a series of impressive performances saw him promoted to Chelsea’s Under-18s side. McAidoo then earned a call-up to the England Under-17s in March and had cameo appearances off the bench in wins against Northern Ireland and Hungary in European Under-17 Championship qualification.

These encouraging displays have been typical for McAidoo with the Chelsea youngster showing some breath-taking turns of skill during his time with the Blues. In one compilation video of his performance against Crystal Palace for the Under-18s, McAidoo can be seen turning on the ball with ease, finding space and opening up the play in the opposition box.

The 15-year-old, who has also been linked with Manchester City and Liverpool, demonstrates an impressive show of strength for a player so young by frequently fending off players in the middle of the pitch and playing pin-point accurate through-balls. The Chelsea number 10 also seems to exhibit excellent close control and is quick with his feet.

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In one stunning moment, he receives the ball just past the halfway line and takes on four Palace players while bearing down on goal. Shortly after losing the ball, McAidoo then retrieves it with a showcase of blistering pace and power before bringing it back into play setting Chelsea on the attack once again.

The left-footed ace also shows a fierce tenacity to win the ball in the centre of the pitch and is adept at gliding past opponents as he looks to bring his team-mates into the fray. The youngster has been garnering a buzz around Stamford Bridge and is believed to already be signed to an agency founded by Liverpool star Trent Alexander-Arnold’s brother.

No deal has been agreed between the Arsenal and player but, according to those reports, an agreement has been proposed from Arsenal. If a deal were to go through it would see McAidoo join Arsenal’s academy set-up at Hale End.

Should McAidoo make the move across London, he won’t be the first Chelsea youth product to now play under Arteta at the Gunners. Both Declan Rice and Eddie Nketiah both came through the ranks at Cobham before they were released at a young age and eventually found their way to the Emirates Stadium.

The move for McAidoo could also be some damage control for Arsenal with rumours abounding that they could see their own young starlet, Chido Obi-Martin, make a move to Bayern Munich after contract talks appeared to collapse between the parties.