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Arsenal academy forward Nathan Butler-Oyedeji has completed a permanent transfer to Swiss Super League club FC Lausanne-Sport, bringing an end to his 14-year association with the Gunners.
The 22-year-old signed a three-year deal with Lausanne-Sport and will wear the number 11 shirt. The move was officially confirmed by both clubs on Wednesday, July 2, 2025, shortly after Butler-Oyedeji’s contract with the club expired at the end of June.
A standout performer at Under-21 level, Butler-Oyedeji scored 11 goals and provided six assists in 17 appearances during the 2024/25 season. His form attracted interest from several European clubs, including Sturm Graz in Austria and Denmark’s FC Copenhagen, but the forward opted to join Lausanne-Sport — a club owned by INEOS, which previously signed fellow Arsenal academy graduate Trae Coyle in 2021.
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Although the transfer was completed on a free, Arsenal are set to receive approximately £300,000 in training compensation under FIFA regulations, having developed the player since he joined the academy at the age of eight. The Gunners have also reportedly secured a significant sell-on clause in the deal, ensuring they benefit from any future transfer.
In a farewell message shared on social media, Butler-Oyedeji expressed his gratitude to the club and its supporters.
“After 14 years at this club, my time at Arsenal has come to an end. I would like to thank firstly God for giving me the opportunity to realise my dream of playing for Arsenal. Arsenal will always hold a special place in my heart — being a boyhood Arsenal fan, it was a dream come true to make my debut for the club,” he wrote.
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He went on to thank his coaches, teammates, and Arsenal fans, whom he called the “lifeblood of the club.”
Butler-Oyedeji made two senior appearances for Arsenal last season — coming off the bench in a Champions League group stage match against Dinamo Zagreb and in a Premier League fixture against Ipswich Town. Despite being named in 28 matchday squads under Mikel Arteta, competition for places in the Gunners’ attacking ranks limited his first-team opportunities.
Lausanne-Sport confirmed that Butler-Oyedeji will join his new teammates for training on Thursday, July 3, as he begins a new chapter in Switzerland. The move presents the London-born forward, who is also eligible to represent Nigeria, with a chance to establish himself in top-flight European football.
Everyone at now.arsenal wishes Nathan Butler-Oyedeji the very best in his Swiss adventure.
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