Arsenal attacking midfielder Ethan Nwaneri now looks likely to join Marseille on a six-month loan until the end of the season
Ryan Taylor
11:48, 20 Jan 2026Updated 11:59, 20 Jan 2026
Ethan Nwaneri now looks likely to join Marseille
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Ethan Nwaneri now looks likely to join Marseille(Image: )
After weeks of fielding calls, Arsenal now look poised to sanction the loan departure of youngster Ethan Nwaneri to Marseille.
The 18-year-old attacking midfielder has found minutes hard to come by in north London this season as the arrival of Eberechi Eze pushed him further down the Gunners pecking order.
Nonetheless, he remains incredibly highly rated by the club and there is still huge faith he will eventually become a regular first-team starter at the Emirates.
Initially, Arsenal appeared reluctant to loan Nwaneri this month because they have previously suffered from a shortage of numbers.
Given they are still in all four competitions, there was also belief that he would eventually earn more opportunities and that his quality would also be required.
However, one particular club - Marseille - have seemingly altered Arsenal's thinking.
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The French giants remain in the hunt for the Ligue 1 title and are also on course to qualify for the UEFA Champions League knockout stages.
Not only that but Roberto De Zerbi and Mikel Arteta, who are believed to have spoken about Nwaneri and a potential transfer, share many similar footballing principles.
Their teams both play front-foot attacking football that is centred around possession and intensity while De Zerbi also has a number of other English players within his current squad.
Their presence would undoubtedly aid Nwaneri's transition and help him acclimatise to life in a foreign country while Marseille appear ready to assist the teenager's development both on and off the field.
The fact they're even prepared to pay a substantial loan fee - potentially around £2million that would be dependent on appearance and performance-related criteria - speaks volumes given they're only borrowing his for the second half of the season and Marseille evidently feel Nwaneri is a player that could have a notable impact upon their campaign.
Arsenal have not been short of interest, either but they had zero intention of entertaining permanent bids this month and made it clear any loan with Marseille would not include a permanent transfer option.
Ethan Nwaneri is in talks over a potential loan exit from Arsenal with Marseille keen
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Ethan Nwaneri is in talks over a potential loan switch to Marseille(Image: David Price/Arsenal FC via Getty Images)
It was non-negotiable that any move would have to suit Nwaneri stylistically and would also see him return to his current club at the end of the season, when he'll be assessed.
A raft of clubs including West Ham, Crystal Palace, Fulham, Bournemouth, Borussia Dortmund plus other unnamed teams from Europe also made calls to enquire, displaying varying levels of interest.
Dortmund were keen last summer before Nwaneri penned a new long-term contract with his boyhood club. Club sources at Bournemouth have downplayed interest but they are believed to have reached out and made checks.
West Ham were keen on a loan but were politely rejected earlier this month as at the time, Arsenal were not actively looking to loan their Hale End academy graduate.
Instead, they've bided their team and importantly, Nwaneri has also shown a real openness, alongside his representatives and family, to Marseille's proposal.
Relations between the two clubs are thought to be strong even though they were unable to agree a deal for Oleksandr Zinchenko last summer, despite extensive talks.
It's a chance to experience something new and unique and if all goes to plan, he should return to Arsenal a better player.
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Nwaneri has travelled with the Gunners squad to Milan for their Champions League group phase tie against Inter but he's not expected to play.
Instead, he could yet undergo his Marseille medical within the next 24 hours.
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