Arsenal have confirmed that Nuno Tavares has completed a permanent move to Lazio.
The Italian side were obligated to buy the left-back for a fee in the region of €8 million after he met various performance-related criteria during the season-long loan he’s just completed.
While he’s now under contract until 2028, it’s expected Lazio will recoup that fee by selling him on for an immediate profit, with Arsenal set to benefit further thanks to a sell-on clause worth up to 25%.
Tavares made 30 appearances last season, registering nine assists – eight of which came before the end of October, earning him the nickname ‘the king of assists’ in the Italian press. Unfortunately, injury problems disrupted his momentum, and he spent much of the final third of the campaign on the sidelines.
Signed from Benfica in 2021 – a move driven by then sporting director Edu – Tavares struggled to settle under Mikel Arteta, whose system demanded discipline and precision. His erratic, unpredictable style was quickly overshadowed by the arrival of Oleksandr Zinchenko, and he never really got a second chance.
Loan spells at Marseille and Nottingham Forest followed, with the former far more successful than the latter. That said, a strong season in Serie A saw him rediscover some of his best form and earn a first senior cap for Portugal.
If Arsenal have learnt anything, it’s that you can take a punt on a young prospect and still make your money back, if you’re clever about it.
Best of luck to Nuno wherever he ends up.