Arsenal's promising young midfielder, Ethan Nwaneri, has officially joined Olympique Marseille on loan until the end of the season. The 18-year-old, who has already made 12 appearances for Arsenal in all competitions this season, will now gain valuable experience with the Ligue 1 side.
Nwaneri's rise to prominence began in September 2022 when he made his debut against Brentford at the tender age of 15 years and 181 days, becoming the youngest player in Premier League history. He is also Arsenal's youngest-ever player. He further cemented his place in the squad last season, making 37 appearances across all competitions, including 26 in the Premier League and seven in the UEFA Champions League.
A Hale End academy graduate, Nwaneri has been with Arsenal since the age of eight. He signed his first professional contract in March 2024, upon turning 17, and committed his long-term future to the club with a new contract in August of this year. Nwaneri scored his first goal for Arsenal in a Carabao Cup match against Bolton Wanderers in September 2024, bagging a brace. He followed that up with his first Premier League goal against Nottingham Forest in November of the same year.
Despite his undeniable talent, Nwaneri's playing time has been somewhat limited this season, especially after the arrival of Eberechi Eze and Noni Madueke. This loan move to Marseille aims to provide him with consistent game time in a competitive environment.
Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta believes this move will be beneficial for Nwaneri's development. He emphasized the importance of young players getting minutes and the valuable experience Nwaneri will gain in a challenging football atmosphere. "The talented young players that we have need minutes, and Ethan wasn't getting enough minutes,” said Arteta. “There is the fear and the insecurity of getting out of a place that has been really comfortable for him. At the end, you have to be thrown to the sharks in an incredible football atmosphere, and it's going to make him so good."
Marseille manager Roberto De Zerbi has already expressed his excitement about Nwaneri's arrival, hinting that he could feature in their upcoming match against Lens. "Timber and Nwaneri? I'm absolutely delighted they've signed for OM; they could even play as soon as Saturday," De Zerbi stated. "They're two quality players, with experience for Timber and talent for Nwaneri."
The loan agreement between Arsenal and Marseille involves a loan fee, with the final amount dependent on Nwaneri's playing time. There is no option to buy included in the deal.
Arsenal have expressed their best wishes to Nwaneri for his time in Marseille. The club looks forward to seeing him further develop his skills in one of Europe's top leagues. The loan deal is subject to the completion of regulatory processes.
Nwaneri is an England Under-21 international and has represented the Young Lions at every age group from Under-16s. His preferred foot is his left. He is the brother of Emerson Nwaneri, who plays in Arsenal's youth setup.
