Marseille Eye Loan Move for Arsenal Prodigy Ethan Nwaneri

Key Takeaways:

• Marseille have been in talks with Arsenal to secure Ethan Nwaneri on loan until the season’s end
• No purchase option will be included in the prospective agreement, as Arsenal intends to retain Nwaneri long-term
• Nwaneri set a Premier League record as the youngest-ever player during his debut against Brentford in September 2022

Transfer Discussions Between Marseille and Arsenal

Marseille have entered negotiations with Arsenal in a bid to bring highly rated 18-year-old Ethan Nwaneri to France on a loan deal valid until the end of the current campaign. The arrangement, if completed, is expected to exclude any option for a permanent transfer, reflecting Arsenal’s determination to hold on to their talented midfielder for the foreseeable future.

🚨⚪️🔵 Olympique Marseille are in active talks to sign Ethan Nwaneri on loan from Arsenal.

Club to club talks started as @David_Ornstein reported, with #AFC considering options after calls from Italy and from Crystal Palace as well. pic.twitter.com/FA0GbWkzIA

— Fabrizio Romano (@FabrizioRomano) January 20, 2026

Coaching Influence and Player Development

Marseille’s manager, Roberto De Zerbi, has spoken directly with Arsenal’s head coach, Mikel Arteta, about the player’s situation. Arteta stated that De Zerbi’s coaching approach aligns with Nwaneri’s developmental needs, making Marseille the preferred destination for the midfielder’s temporary move, despite the existence of competing interest from other European clubs.

Nwaneri’s Career Milestones

Ethan Nwaneri made his Arsenal debut over three years ago, etching his name in Premier League history as the youngest player to take the field, aged just 15 years, during a fixture against Brentford in September 2022. Demonstrating significant promise, Nwaneri featured in 37 matches across all competitions last season and appeared poised to feature prominently again. However, his prospects in the current campaign have been curtailed following the arrivals of Eberechi Eze and Noni Madueke.