Arsenal Open to Selling Ethan Nwaneri This Summer After Failed Marseille Loan Spell

Arsenal are no longer ruling out a summer departure for 19-year-old midfielder Ethan Nwaneri, with the club understood to be open to receiving offers for the Nigerian-born talent during the upcoming transfer window, according to reports.

Journalist Sami Mokbel, speaking on the Latte Firm YouTube channel, indicated that a permanent exit is increasingly likely. “I don’t think he will [stay at Arsenal]. There is a will from Arsenal to, at the very least, listen to offers. I think he will want regular football next season and I’m not sure where he fits in,” Mokbel stated.

At the centre of the situation is Nwaneri’s desire for guaranteed first-team minutes — something manager Mikel Arteta is reportedly unable to commit to, given the significant depth and competition that currently exists within Arsenal’s midfield. The teenager is said to be eager to secure consistent playing time ahead of next season rather than continue in a secondary role at the Emirates Stadium.

The club’s shift in position follows a turbulent five-month loan spell at Ligue 1 side Marseille, which failed to deliver the developmental outcomes Arsenal had anticipated. Arteta had specifically sanctioned the move to France to allow Nwaneri to sharpen his tactical understanding under head coach Roberto De Zerbi. However, the Italian manager was dismissed just weeks after Nwaneri’s arrival, leaving the teenager without the key figure the loan had been structured around.

Without De Zerbi’s guidance, Nwaneri struggled to find consistency in an unsettled environment, and the experience is now understood to have prompted Arsenal’s directors to reassess his long-term place at the club. European clubs are reportedly beginning to register interest as a result.

Nwaneri made history in October 2022 when he became Arsenal’s youngest-ever Premier League player, coming on as a substitute against Brentford at the age of 15 years and 181 days — a record that underlined the enormous expectations placed on him from an early stage in his career. Since then, his progression through the first-team setup has been gradual, with loan football seen as the natural next step toward regular senior involvement.

Should Arsenal proceed with a sale this summer, the transfer would represent a significant decision regarding a player who has long been considered one of the most promising young midfielders in English football. The club’s willingness to listen to offers, rather than actively push for a move, suggests the final outcome will likely depend on the nature and valuation of any incoming bids, as well as Nwaneri’s own preference regarding his next destination.