Option or obligation? Nelson's Arsenal loan exit with permanent clause 'agreed'
Option or obligation? Nelson's Arsenal loan exit with permanent clause 'agreed'
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Arsenal winger Reiss Nelson is reportedly close to joining one of the Gunners' Premier League London rivals on loan with an option to buy in 2026.
The 25-year-old returned to London Colney earlier this summer following a disrupted loan spell at Fulham, where he only made 12 appearances in all competitions due to a serious hamstring injury.
Nelson had started to enjoy a run of starts in the Cottagers' side before being laid low with his muscle tear, although Fulham were reported to have been in talks over another deal for the Hale End product earlier this summer.
However, an agreement could ultimately not be struck between Arsenal and Fulham, and Nelson has been training with Mikel Arteta's side while his agents work to find him a new destination.
Now, The Athletic reports that Nelson will be joining Brentford on a season-long loan deal, and the Bees will have the option to sign the attacker on a permanent basis in 2026.
Arsenal's Nelson to replace Yoane Wissa, Bryan Mbeumo at Brentford?
Fulham's Reiss Nelson pictured on September 28, 2024
Brentford have already lost Bryan Mbeumo to Manchester United this summer, and they are about to wave goodbye to Yoane Wissa in a £55m deal to Newcastle United.
Nelson will therefore have some big shoes to fill at the Gtech Community Stadium, but he showed glimpses of his quality last season, scoring two goals and claiming one assist in 12 appearances in a Fulham shirt.
Nelson flew to Asia for Arsenal's pre-season tour despite the expectation that he would leave the club, making appearances off the bench against AC Milan and Tottenham Hotspur, but he has not been involved in the 2025-26 Premier League season.
The signing of Noni Madueke and emergence of 15-year-old Max Dowman pushed Nelson down the pecking order at Arsenal, who still have the winger under contract until 2027 with the option of a 12-month extension.
Nelson has provided eight goals and nine assists in 90 appearances for Arsenal since coming through their youth academy, including an unforgettable winner in a 3-2 Premier League victory over Bournemouth in 2023.
Who else could leave Arsenal on deadline day?
Arsenal's Fabio Vieira in action on March 4, 2024
Aside from the imminent arrival of Piero Hincapie, deadline day will be all about the outgoings for Arsenal, who could offload a minimum of four players before the window slams shut.
The Gunners are on the verge of loaning out Fabio Vieira to Hamburg, who will have an option to buy the Portuguese playmaker, while Albert Sambi Lokonga is joining the same team on a permanent deal.
Confirmation of Jakub Kiwior's move to Porto - another loan deal with an option to buy - should also arrive imminently, and the future of Oleksandr Zinchenko is not set in stone either.
The Ukrainian left-back's contract expires at the end of the current season, and talks are understood to have taken place with Marseille, but nothing is close regarding an exit.
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