Sligo Rovers boss John Russell has played down talk of a potential return for former loanee Jack Henry-Francis, but the midfielder is set to leave Arsenal this summer.
Jack Henry-Francis playing for Sligo Rovers (Photo via Sligo Rovers on Instagram)
Photo via Sligo Rovers on Instagram
Aidan Fitzmaurice reports for Irish outlet The Herald that Jack Henry-Francis could be available to former loan club Sligo Rovers this summer, as he’s believed to be on the way out at Arsenal.
Yet Rovers manager John Russell has played down the possibility of re-signing the midfielder, suggesting a move within England is more likely.
“Jack has ambitions to try and play at the highest level,” Russell said this week. “When you see him sitting on the bench in Champions League games and Premier League games, I am sure his goal would be to try and stay in England.”
Jack Henry-Francis playing for the Arsenal u21s (Photo via Henry-Francis on Instagram)
Photo via Henry-Francis on Instagram
It’s true that Henry-Francis has had a taste of the best that English and European football has to offer this season. The 21-year-old made it into almost every Mikel Arteta squad for the final month of the season, appearing on the bench in nine of Arsenal’s final 10 games.
That included the Champions League quarter-final away to Real Madrid, and both legs of the semi-final against PSG.
The Republic of Ireland u21 international sadly never made it onto the pitch for Arsenal’s first team, at least not in official competition. He did make an appearance in a friendly against Hibernian FC in 2021.
That doesn’t look set to change, with multiple reports now suggesting Henry-Francis will leave at the end of his contract next month.
Jack Henry-Francis signing for Sligo Rovers (Photo via Sligo Rovers on Twitter)
Photo via Sligo Rovers on Twitter
Henry-Francis played 13 times for Sligo Rovers in a loan spell in the second half of 2024, and he drew a lot of praise during his time with the club.
At the time, Russell admitted they’d held talks with Arsenal and the player himself over a potential permanent transfer, but it never came about. Henry-Francis will have options this summer, and it seems the door is open to return to Ireland if he so wishes.
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