FOOTBALL
By Ankeres MSK
Posted on June 23, 2026 12:00 am | Updated on June 22, 2026 7:32 pm Ethan Nwaneri is most likely not part of Chelsea’s transfer target list.
Chelsea is one of England’s premier football clubs, competing in the Premier League and European competitions such as the UEFA Champions League. Known for its strong squad, tactical versatility, and competitive history, Chelsea has won multiple league titles, domestic cups,… Read More about CHELSEA
Chelsea are most likely not going to approach to sign Arsenal youngster Ethan Nwaneri if he becomes available this summer. This is after the London side enquired about Nwaneri last summer.
Ethan Nwaneri and his rough career so far
Ethan Nwaneri truly looked like the real deal for quite sometime. He joined Arsenal’s academy when he was eight years old. He then broke through into the Arsenal first team when he was just 15. The Englishman became the youngest ever Premier League player in history at 15 years and 181 days old. So the future was looking extremely bright for the Englishman. However, things have not panned out the way they were supposed to.
Nwaneri’s stats as per FOTMOB
APPEARANCES GOALS ASSISTS
56 13 3
Nwaneri’s 2024/25 season went well. The 19-year-old scored 9 goals that season and consequently signed a new contract until 2030 as well. However, Arsenal went on to make multiple attacking signings in the following summer. And that truly eliminated his chance of receiving productive gametime. Lack of gametime is the last thing a young footballer would want. Similarly, Ethan also suffered heavily because of the lack of gametime and that pushed Arsenal to loan him out. So he made the move to Marseille on a loan deal in January 2026.
Nwaneri at Marseille and Chelsea’s interest
Ethan Nwaneri’s loan spell at Marseille can be split into two halves. The half that had Robert De Zerbi as manager. And the other half without Robert De Zerbi. The 19-year-old’s Marseille loan kickstarted in immediate success as he scored in his debut game against RC Lens. However, since displaying some great football in that game, Ethan failed to continue the initial success.
Furthermore, De Zerbi was sacked and the new manager Habib Beye simply refused to include the 19-year-old in his gameplans. Consequently, the Arsenal academy graduate barely played under Beye. Moreover, Beye also openly discussed Nwaneri not being ‘committed’ enough. “He’s a quality player but he has to show us a lot more in his everyday commitment. Other players have shown a lot more,” Beye said.
Now the Englishman is in a difficult scenario in which he can’t survive in Marseille and can’t return to Arsenal as well. This is because Arsenal have just won the league and their squad looks extremely settled. Even if they make changes, those will most likely be superstar signings to enhance the squad further. This is where Chelsea comes into the picture. The Blues showed interest to sign Nwaneri last summer. This was before the 19-year-old signed the big contract renewal at Arsenal.
However, as reported by the Daily Mail, Chelsea are unlikely to come back for Nwaneri this summer. The London club are no longer interested in signing him if Arsenal put him on the transfer list. Football pundits and journalists expected Chelsea to go for the Arsenal youngster, but it is clear that Stamford Bridge is not going to be the destination for him.
What’s next for Nwaneri?
We cannot be too negative with how things have turned out for Ethan Nwaneri. At the end of the day, he is only 19. He has a long way to go in his career. And he is going to be presented with multiple opportunities to shine. However, Arsenal is unlikely to be a place where he could shine because Mikel Arteta simply does not trust him. The Arsenal manager does not have the youngster in his plans moving forward. With Marseille, Arsenal and Chelsea, all out of the Englishman’s reach, a brand new destination is the most likely possibility for him.
Author’s opinion
The future still looks extremely bright for Nwaneri, despite the hurdles he has had to face. Honestly, a fresh and new club might be the exact thing the academy graduate would also want at this point.
Follow the latest updates from Premier League, La Liga and Champions League, or explore more Football stories, Football Teams & All Football Competitions . Follow more updates on CHELSEA. You can also check Latest Sports News or visit Six Sports for more Football updates.
Ankeres MSK
Ankeres MSK is a junior football writer at Six Sports, contributing articles that explore key stories and developments from the world of football. His coverage focuses on breaking news, match related narratives, and broader discussions surrounding the sport. Through his work at Six Sports, Ankeres aims to provide readers with well structured football coverage that highlights important moments, player performances, and evolving conversations within the game. His writing is driven by a passion for football and a commitment to delivering engaging content for fans.
Mentioned in this Article