Arsenal academy graduate Reiss Nelson has spent the better part of two years bouncing between loan spells in west London. Now, at 26, his path might lead somewhere far more intriguing — Portugal.
According to BBC Sport journalist Sami Mokbel, Benfica and Valencia are both monitoring Nelson’s situation this summer. He’s reportedly turned down interest from Premier League clubs and is open to heading abroad. It’s a bold stance from a player who’s barely played in England’s top flight recently, but it could also be exactly the fresh start he needs.
The Marco Silva Connection
Here’s what makes the Benfica link especially interesting. Marco Silva, the club’s newly appointed head coach, already knows Nelson well.
Silva managed Nelson during his 2024/25 loan at Fulham. That spell was short — just 12 appearances before a serious hamstring injury ended his season in February 2025 — but it left an impression. Nelson scored twice and added an assist under Silva before going down.
Silva took charge at Benfica in June 2026 after replacing Jose Mourinho, who left for Real Madrid. He signed a two-year contract with the option of a third, and he’s now assembling a squad capable of challenging for the Primeira Liga title. Bringing in a winger he trusts from his Fulham days would make sense.
Fulham, ironically, are also interested. That sets up a potential tug-of-war between Nelson’s former loan boss and the club he worked under.
A Career That Never Quite Took Off at Arsenal
Nelson’s story at Arsenal is one of unfulfilled promise. He joined the Hale End academy aged eight and made his senior debut in the 2017 FA Community Shield at just 17. The early signs were encouraging:
- Seven Bundesliga goals during a loan at Hoffenheim in 2018/19
- 32 appearances and a Europa Conference League final run with Feyenoord in 2021/22
- A dramatic late equaliser and winner off the bench against Bournemouth in 2022/23
But he never nailed down a regular spot under Mikel Arteta. Across nine years with the first team, he’s managed just 90 appearances — eight goals, nine assists. Only 15 of his 61 Premier League outings have been starts. That’s not enough.
His most recent loan at Brentford in 2025/26 didn’t help his case either. He made 14 appearances but didn’t start a single Premier League match. A string of minor injuries — a calf problem, illness, general knocks — meant he never built any momentum. His total Premier League minutes? Just 118.
What Happens Next?
Nelson’s contract at Arsenal runs until the summer of 2027. That puts the club in a familiar position: sell now or risk losing him for free in 12 months.
Arsenal aren’t going to block a move. They’ve had Nelson available for departure for two consecutive windows, and his wages would free up space in a squad that’s focused on bigger targets. A fee in the region of his estimated €12-14 million market value would represent decent business for a player who hasn’t contributed meaningfully in years.
For Nelson, the decision feels straightforward. Regular football matters more than anything at this stage of his career. He’s 26 — supposedly entering his peak years — yet he’s barely played competitive minutes since 2023/24.
Benfica offers something no Premier League club can right now. A manager who believes in him. A league where he’d likely start. A club competing in Europe. And a chance to prove that the talent Arsenal’s academy developed isn’t wasted.
Will it happen? The coming weeks will tell. But don’t be surprised if Nelson’s nearly two-decade association with Arsenal quietly ends with a move to Lisbon. Sometimes the best next chapter starts somewhere entirely new.
