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Official: Arsenal star completes surprise summer transfer

Updated: 1 Jun 2026 13:40 BST | 6 min read

Mikel Arteta, Arsenal, 2025/26

Cameron Smith

Cameron Smith | Digital Content Producer

Accredited sports journalist covering football since 2020

Arsenal academy defender Josh Nichols has officially become the third Gunners player to leave the club this summer after completing a move to Croatian side NK Kustosija.

The 19-year-old made his senior debut for the Gunners during a 5-1 win over Bolton Wanderers in the Carabao Cup in September 2024, but that was his only first-team appearance for his boyhood club and his time at the Emirates Stadium has now come to an end.

Nichols joined Arsenal as an eight-year-old and he made 14 youth-team appearances for the club this season, including 10 in the Premier League 2. He was also included in the matchday squad for Arsenal's 3-0 win over Club Brugge in the Champions League in December, but he failed to make a senior appearance in 2025-26 and his move to NK Kustosija on a free transfer has now been officially confirmed.

In the process, Nichols has become the Arsenal's third confirmed transfer of the summer, following the sales of Jakub Kiwior to FC Porto and Karl Hein to Werder Bremen.

Arsenal’s summer transfer plans

In addition to Kiwior, Hein and Nichols, Arsenal are also set to sanction the departure of Fabio Vieira on a permanent deal when the summer transfer window opens, with Hamburg in talks over a potential transfer after a successful loan spell with the Bundesliga outfit in 2025-26.

Meanwhile, Ben White, Gabriel Jesus, Ethan Nwaneri, Christian Norgaard and Gabriel Martinelli have also been linked with Arsenal exits as the club look to raise funds through player sales in a bid to increase their transfer budget.

In regards to incomings, Arsenal have already missed out on Newcastle United forward Anthony Gordon to Barcelona, while Atletico Madrid striker Julian Alvarez is also expected to complete a Camp Nou transfer before the window closes.

However, FootballTransfers understands that a deal for Aston Villa attacker Morgan Rogers is being explored by the Arsenal hierarchy" href="https://www.footballtransfers.com/en/transfer-news/uk-premier-league/2026/05/exclusive-arsenal-plot-blockbuster-morgan-rogers-transfer-after-secret-groundwork" target="_blank">FootballTransfers understands that a deal for Aston Villa attacker Morgan Rogers is being explored by the Arsenal hierarchy, while they remain interested in fellow Premier League stars Sandro Tonali and Valentino Livramento too.

Bournemouth forward Eli Junior Kroupi has also been linked with a move to the north London giants this summer, although he is wanted by a plethora of elite European clubs, including Bayern Munich and Paris Saint-Germain, after a stellar first season at the Vitality Stadium.