Arsenal attempt to repeat trick that transformed William Saliba as agreement struck for January transfer
Ethan Nwaneri is set to move on loan to Ligue 1 club Marseille for the second half of the season after an agreement was found.
Several Premier League clubs were keen on a loan move for Nwaneri, with the youngster struggling for minutes.
The 18-year-old burst onto the scene amid injuries last season, but has found himself often left out of the team amid the arrivals of Eberechi Eze and Noni Madueke.
Nwaneri was impressive against Portsmouth in the FA Cup just two weeks ago, and the midfielder is extremely highly rated at Arsenal.
That was evident in the summer, when Nwaneri signed a new long-term contract at Arsenal, expected to keep him at the club until at least 2030.
Ethan Nwaneri set to jet out to France as agreement struck
It had been unclear whether Arsenal would loan Nwaneri out this month. The midfielder has not appeared in a Premier League game since November, but did start in the FA Cup this month.
Injuries allowed the youngster’s talents to be put on full show last season, but competition has become fierce in recent months.
Eze and Madueke arrived in the summer, and injury returns for Martin Odegaard, Kai Havertz, Gabriel Jesus and Gabriel Martinelli have made it a battle to even appear on the bench.
David Ornstein reported on Tuesday that Nwaneri has now agreed to join Marseille on loan, after an agreement was found between the clubs.
The England youth international is expected to travel to France after Tuesday’s Champions League game against Inter Milan, and bolster Roberto De Zerbi‘s team, who currently sit third in Ligue 1.
Arsenal will hope to see William Saliba trick repeated
The path between Arsenal and Marseille has been regularly trodden in recent years. Sead Kolasinac, Nuno Tavares and Matteo Guendouzi have all made the move, and, after a slight detour, Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang did too.
The Gunners sent William Saliba there in 2022, while his Premier League future hung in the balance. The defender had signed for Arsenal in 2019, but had yet to make his debut.
| William Saliba | Premier League 2025-26 |
| Appearances | 18 |
| Tackles | 20 |
| Recoveries | 68 |
| Pass % | 93.5% |
| Duels won | 72 |
Mistreatment of the young centre-back’s situation had left him in the youth team for six months, and there was a suspicion that a strong season with Marseille could see him leave permanently.
But the result was quite the opposite. Saliba found his confidence with the Ligue 1 club, performing brilliantly and batting away any talk of a permanent move when he returned to Arsenal and walked into the starting XI.
The seasons since have seen the 24-year-old go up level after level, with him now rightly considered among Europe’s best defenders.
The circumstances surrounding Nwaneri’s move are different, but Arsenal will hope that a similar development can take place with the youngster’s confidence.