Arsenal
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Arsenal and Fulham have reopened negotiations over a potential loan deal for winger Reiss Nelson, according to The Independent’s Miguel Delaney.
The 25-year-old, an Arsenal academy graduate, previously spent the 2024/25 season on loan at Craven Cottage, where he made 13 appearances before a hamstring injury in December cut short his campaign. Despite the setback, Nelson impressed under Marco Silva, posting encouraging attacking metrics and showing flashes of the direct, high-usage style Fulham value.
Talks are understood to centre on structuring a loan agreement, with Arsenal pushing for a deal that includes an obligation to buy. The Gunners are keen on securing a permanent resolution for Nelson, whose contract runs until 2027 with an option for an extra year.
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Fulham, however, are reluctant to commit given the winger’s recent injury history, while the player himself is said to favour a one-season loan to re-establish his form and fitness.
Reiss Nelson - Arsenal
Reiss Nelson (Image credit: Getty Images)
Fulham’s renewed interest comes as Silva looks to strengthen his squad following the departures of Willian and Carlos Vinicius, with no new attacking signings yet made this summer. Nelson, admired by Silva for his creativity and pace, is seen as a strong candidate to bolster Fulham’s frontline options.
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For Arsenal, allowing Nelson to leave would free up both wages, believed to be around £100,000 per week and squad space, especially after significant investment in players such as Viktor Gyokeres and Noni Madueke. The club considers Nelson a sellable asset, though his fitness record has made negotiations with Fulham and other suitors, including Crystal Palace, more complex.
Reports suggest a compromise structure, possibly a loan with a conditional obligation to buy tied to appearances, is being discussed. Should a deal be struck, Nelson would reunite with former Arsenal teammates Emile Smith Rowe, Alex Iwobi, and Bernd Leno at Craven Cottage, offering him a familiar environment to reignite his career.
No agreement has yet been finalised, but progress in talks signals a realistic pathway for Nelson’s future away from the Emirates as the transfer deadline approaches.
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