Nwaneri Completes Marseille Move From Arsenal

Arsenal’s young star Ethan Nwaneri has completed his move to French Ligue 1 side Marseille on Friday.

The 18-year-old will spend the remainder of the season on loan in France after struggling for regular playing time at the Emirates Stadium.

He signed a new contract in the summer until 2030, but has found it difficult to get a first team chance following the signings of Noni Madueke for £48.5m and Eberechi Eze for £67m.

Nwaneri made his debut as a substitute against Brentford in September 2022, becoming the youngest player in Premier League history aged just 15 years and 181 days and Arsenal’s youngest player in any competition.

He went on to make six appearances in total across the 2022/23 and 2023/24 campaigns before breaking through last season, when he made 37 appearances – 16 of them were starts – in all competitions, including 26 in the Premier League and seven in the UEFA Champions League.

Arsenal coach, Mikel Arteta, said Nwaneri needs regular football to continue his development.

He said: “We constantly have to be monitoring the young talented players we have. They need minutes and Ethan wasn’t getting enough minutes.

“The last thing we want is to cut his development. Because he’s such a talent, he loves and breathes football, that’s his life. After discussing with him, his father, the agent and the club, we decided it was best for him to leave on loan. Then we have to pick the right place.

“With all the options and understanding of the experience we had with Willy [Saliba] and Roberto being there as a great developer of young talent, it’s a really courageous manager in the way he plays with young talent as well. It fits the way of playing with the qualities we want to see for Ethan.

“One day, you have to pack your bags, say this is the ticket and you go to Marseille. And you go: woah, woah woah. It’s fear and insecurity, getting out of a place that has been really comfortable for him around his family.

“At the end you have to be thrown to the sharks in an incredible atmosphere and club. It’s going to make so much good.”

Nwaneri will be hoping to get regular playing time at Marseille under Roberto Dr Zerbi, who is known for developing young players.

He is expected to make his Marseille debut against Lens on Saturday night.