Ex-Arsenal Star on Why His Son Signing for Chelsea Left Him Very Sad - ‘I am Crying Inside’

Former Arsenal defender Emmanuel Eboue has opened up on the pain of seeing his son sign for Chelsea but not being there to celebrate the milestone with him.

Eboue was involved in a highly-publicized divorce from his ex-wife Aurelie Bertrand which he has since admitted left him broke as the latter took off with most his properties and investments.

Their union was blessed with three children, two daughters and a son, Mathis Eboue, who now plays for Chelsea U18, having joined the Blues from Watford in December 2024.

Mathis, now 17, was born in England when his father played for Arsenal and has featured for England U16 as he continues his development and there is now hope that he will blossom into a star player.

However, his transfer to Stamford Bridge left his father heartbroken as he was not aware that the promising attacking midfielder was making such a career-defining move.

“I feel very sad because when he signed for Chelsea, I wasn’t there. The mum did not call me also and I did not even know,” Eboue admitted on The5thHouse Podcast.

“Previously, I would talk to him but now for nearly five years, I have no contact with him. It pains me a lot because he is my son and I taught him how to play football. I have some videos when we were playing and now, I am happy for him. I did not know he would get there.

“However, I am crying inside because I want to be closer to my son and help him,” the former Ivory Coast international further stated.

Eboue detailed his son’s football journey that started at the Arsenal academy when he played for the Gunners during a seven-year spell between 2004 and 2011 before leaving for Watford when his parents separated.

“Previously, he was at the Arsenal academy but I think the problem I had with his mum is the reason he left and went to Watford where he did well before Chelsea came,” he added.

The ex-right-back, has lamented a decision by his ex-wife to deny him access to his children, who include two daughters, one now 25, and the other 22.

“Okay, I had problems with the mum but the kids do not have to be involved in all that. It is between me and her. But now, I just want to see him,” Eboue said, expressing his desire to meet Mathis and his two sisters.

“Even my daughters, it is long before I saw them. I pray for them and hope one day to see them. I do not have any recent pictures, the ones I have are old ones and even when I ask for some new pictures from the mum, she refuses.

“Now, I send them messages, I see they have read them but they do not answer. Right now, I have my life but the only thing missing is my kids,” said Eboue, who has since remarried and lives back home in Ivory Coast.