Ethan Nwaneri’s summer just got a whole lot more complicated. The 19-year-old Arsenal midfielder is suddenly one of Europe’s most wanted young players, and the Gunners are under growing pressure to make a decision on his future.
Transfer journalist Matteo Moretto dropped the latest bombshell on July 30, revealing that AC Milan have made enquiries about Nwaneri’s availability. But the Rossoneri aren’t alone. RB Leipzig, Everton and Fulham are all tracking the teenager too.
So what happens next? And should Arsenal really let one of Hale End’s finest products walk away?
Milan’s Move Adds a New Dimension
Speaking on Fabrizio Romano’s YouTube channel, Moretto didn’t hold back. He described Nwaneri as “a very, very interesting player with great technical qualities” and confirmed that Milan have already been in contact with Arsenal to gauge the situation.
That’s significant. Milan haven’t just expressed casual interest. They’ve picked up the phone.
According to Moretto, Arsenal aren’t treating Nwaneri as untouchable. The club would reportedly consider a permanent sale, but they’d want to retain some level of control over his future — likely through a buyback clause or sell-on percentage.
Reports from earlier this summer pegged Arsenal’s asking price at around £50 million, though industry sources via Caught Offside have suggested a more realistic figure sits between £35 million and £40 million.
That kind of fee, combined with a safety net clause, could work for Arsenal. It’s a difficult balance, though. Sell too early and you risk watching him shine elsewhere. Hold on too long and his value might drop.
A Loan Spell That Raised More Questions Than Answers
To understand why Arsenal are even open to this conversation, you have to look at Nwaneri’s 2025/26 season.
He started the campaign at Arsenal but struggled for minutes behind established first-team attackers. With Max Dowman emerging as another exciting academy prospect, Nwaneri’s pathway narrowed. In January, Arsenal loaned him to Marseille.
On paper, it made sense. Mikel Arteta backed the move publicly, saying: “I think it fits the way of playing for the qualities that we want to see for Ethan.”
The reality? It didn’t go to plan.
Nwaneri managed just 11 Ligue 1 appearances, scoring twice and adding one assist across roughly 420 minutes. After Roberto De Zerbi left the club, incoming manager Habib Beye publicly questioned Nwaneri’s application in training. He was an unused substitute in five of Marseille’s final six league matches.
It wasn’t a disaster — he’s still only 19. But it certainly wasn’t the confidence-building spell Arsenal had envisioned.
Who’s Best Placed to Land Him?
The competition is stacking up fast. Here’s a quick look at the interested parties:
- AC Milan — drawn to his profile as a technically gifted attacker. The club has had success integrating British players like Fikayo Tomori.
- RB Leipzig — renowned for developing young talent and offering clear pathways to first-team football.
- Everton and Fulham — could offer more immediate Premier League minutes, a familiar environment, and regular starts.
- Chelsea, Borussia Dortmund, and Juventus — all previously linked, though Arsenal would be reluctant to sell to a direct Premier League rival like Chelsea.
A move abroad might actually make the most sense for everyone involved. Arsenal avoid strengthening a domestic competitor, and Nwaneri gets a fresh start without the weight of Premier League expectations.
Dortmund, in particular, have been described in some reports as viewing Nwaneri as a potential “new Jude Bellingham project.” Whether that comparison helps or hurts remains to be seen.
For Nwaneri himself, the priority should be clear: he needs to play. Regularly. Wherever he ends up, consistent minutes matter far more than the size of the badge on his shirt right now.
Arsenal, meanwhile, sit on a fascinating decision. This is a player who became the youngest ever to appear in the Premier League back in September 2022. He scored nine goals in 37 appearances during his breakout 2024/25 campaign. His contract runs until 2030. The talent isn’t in question.
But football doesn’t wait for anyone. With Milan, Leipzig, Everton and Fulham all circling — and Chelsea and Dortmund lurking in the background — Arsenal’s window to control this narrative is closing fast. The coming weeks will reveal whether the Gunners choose to cash in or find a way to keep Nwaneri’s future tied to north London.
