At a Glance:
- Arsenal are considering selling Ethan Nwaneri this summer.
- The midfielder hardly featured for the Gunners or on loan at Marseille last season.
- Here’s why Andrea Berta ought to cash in now.
Arsenal are reportedly considering selling Hale End graduate Ethan Nwaneri this summer – a decision that certainly won’t go down well amongst Gunners supporters.
Nwaneri is one of eight Arsenal players who have been placed on the transfer list by Andrea Berta, as the Italian sporting director plans something of a squad overhaul this summer. The likes of Gabriel Martinelli, Leandro Trossard and Gabriel Jesus are also up for sale.
The teenager played just over 500 minutes across all competitions for Arsenal last season, before being shipped out on loan to Marseille in January. This stint in the South of France did not go well for Nwaneri, and now Arsenal could cash in on this prized possession.
The case to keep Ethan Nwaneri
Nwaneri displayed his immense talent for Arsenal during the 2024/25 season. In the campaign where he turned 18, he netted nine goals across all competitions, demonstrating his ability to pop up with crucial contributions.
His ball-striking, ball-carrying and game intelligence were all on show, and supporters were right to be excited about this exciting prospect emerging through their academy. This is the primary reason to keep hold of him.
While he’s far from the finished article, there are enough raw attributes that indicate that he could develop into a star. This isn’t the calibre of young player you want to lose if you have them on your books.
A goal he’ll remember forever ❤️
— Arsenal (@Arsenal) September 19, 2025
Let’s Talk About: starring Ethan Nwaneri 🌟 pic.twitter.com/J2XZG9xYcp
Additionally, there isn’t necessarily a rush to cash in on the player. Last year was a setback for Nwaneri, as he hardly played in any competition for either Arsenal or Marseille. He wasn’t given the opportunity to develop.
He’s currently training with the England national team ahead of the World Cup, and this should do him the world of good. He could then do with a full season on loan at a club with a stable structure and clear identity.
If he doesn’t progress his game in this time, then there is a case to be made to sell him next summer. However, it can easily be argued that Arsenal should give him this extra year before making a decision. He could prove himself to be ready for the Gunners first team, or he could simply return a more saleable asset.
The case to sell Ethan Nwaneri
Fans often bemoan Arsenal’s chief operators’ inability to sell properly. That’s because the Gunners routinely wait until a player has lost his value and is clearly surplus to requirements for Mikel Arteta before selling him.
To make good sales, sometimes clubs need to make uncomfortable decisions. They need to cash in when the time might not feel right.
There is a possibility that Nwaneri develops into a special player and can spend his career at Arsenal. There is also a very real possibility that he’s not quite at the extremely high level required to play regularly for one of the best teams in the world, and he ultimately has to move on.
Last time out against the Seagulls…
— Arsenal (@Arsenal) December 27, 2025
Ethan Nwaneri caps off a flowing Gunners move in the Carabao Cup 😮💨
🤝 @Bitpanda_global pic.twitter.com/U9ScqPRNW8
Right now, his stock is high, and Arsenal can garner a significant fee for the 19-year-old. In a year or two, who knows where his career might have gone? There’s no guarantee that he’s still worth in excess of £40 million.
Too many times in the past, the Gunners have hoarded promising young players who haven’t lived up to the upper range of their potential and ended up having to sell them for significantly reduced fees. Ainsley Maitland-Niles, Emile Smith Rowe and Gabriel Martinelli arguably all fit this bill.
On top of this, Arsenal have players in Nwaneri’s position, including another young academy player with a higher ceiling than him. Eberechi Eze, Martin Odegaard and Max Dowman are at Arteta’s disposal.
To justify not selling Nwaneri when his value is high, he’d have to usurp at least two of these three players in the pecking order within the next two or three years. The chances of this are unlikely. So, selling now is what a smart club would do, even if it’s painful.
A buy-back clause could even be negotiated into a potential deal. Como are pushing to sign Nwaneri, and the Italian club have had an agreement along these lines for Nico Paz with Real Madrid in the past.
