Ethan Nwaneri’s Loan to Marseille: A Step Forward in His Development

Ethan Nwaneri had a remarkable breakthrough season with Arsenal in 2024-25, netting nine goals and providing two assists in 39 appearances across all competitions. However, his opportunities this season have been limited to just 12 matches, as manager Mikel Arteta has often opted for more experienced players. In response to calls for increased playing time for the England Under-21 international, Arteta urged patience.

Arteta remarked, “He’s 18 years old and has already made 50 appearances for the club. It’s rare to find such a record in English football at his age. If anyone had told us two years ago that he would achieve this with our squad, it may not have seemed realistic.”

On Friday, Nwaneri, whose contract with Arsenal extends until 2030, completed a loan move to Olympique Marseille for the remainder of the season. An official statement from Arsenal announced, “Ethan Nwaneri has joined Olympique Marseille on loan until the end of the season. Our immensely talented 18-year-old has made 12 appearances this season and will gain valuable experience with the Ligue 1 side. We wish Ethan all the best in Marseille and look forward to seeing his development in one of Europe’s premier leagues.”

Prior to finalizing his loan, Nwaneri disclosed that Arsenal teammate William Saliba significantly influenced his decision to join Marseille. Saliba, who previously spent 18 months at the club, spoke highly of the environment.

Nwaneri stated, “William Saliba told me that OM is one of the best clubs in the world. Roberto De Zerbi is an exceptional coach, and I am eager to play under him and adhere to his vision for the team.”

De Zerbi confirmed Nwaneri’s opportunity for playing time at Marseille, promptly starting him in their Ligue 1 match against second-placed Lens. Marseille, bouncing back from a 3-0 defeat to Liverpool in the Champions League, secured a 3-1 victory, with Nwaneri scoring a first-half goal, contributing to the win.

Looking ahead, De Zerbi emphasized that in his team, the best players will play regardless of hierarchy. He stated, “As long as I’m here, I make the decisions. Nwaneri and Timber are exceptional talents who adapt quickly. Although they won’t participate in Wednesday’s match due to qualification issues, they will be ready for the upcoming challenges.”

De Zerbi praised Nwaneri’s performance, calling his goal “beautiful.” Following this victory, Marseille closed the gap to five points behind second-placed Lens and seven points behind league leaders Paris Saint-Germain. Next, Marseille will face Club Brugge in the Champions League on Wednesday, a match for which Nwaneri is ineligible, before concluding the month against Paris FC next Saturday.