Borussia Dortmund make loan approach for Arsenal's Ethan Nwaneri
Borussia Dortmund have approached Arsenal about a loan deal for Ethan Nwaneri, and the Gunners are willing to let the 19-year-old leave on loan before Tuesday's transfer deadline. Talks are underway after Dortmund submitted an offer, with a decision expected Tuesday morning as Arsenal prioritise loan moves over a permanent sale. Multiple outlets including the BBC and The Athletic report active negotiations as the Bundesliga window closes on 1 September.
Key Takeaways
- Dortmund have made a formal loan offer for Ethan Nwaneri, with Arsenal open to letting him leave temporarily.
- The 19-year-old has not featured for Arsenal this season and Mikel Arteta has said he "needs to play football."
- Dortmund's interest intensified after Giannis Konstantelias suffered a cruciate ligament injury.
- Sky reported the Nwaneri deal may be stalling, while Dortmund could also pursue Polish midfielder Marcel Regula.
- A final decision is expected Tuesday morning ahead of the transfer deadline.
Why does Borussia Dortmund want Ethan Nwaneri on loan?
Dortmund are looking to bolster their attack late in the window after summer signing Giannis Konstantelias ruptured his anterior cruciate ligament against Hamburger SV. The Greek midfielder, signed from PAOK Saloniki for a reported €26 million, had impressed in his first two competitive appearances before the injury ended his season.
Interest in Nwaneri pre-dates that setback. According to Sky, Dortmund tried to sign the teenager on a permanent deal last year, and Nwaneri was said to favour a move to Signal Iduna Park, but the clubs failed to reach agreement. A loan structure could reopen those talks with less long-term commitment for both sides.
Will Arsenal let Ethan Nwaneri leave before the deadline?
Arsenal appear ready to sanction a temporary exit. BBC Sport reported earlier in August that the Premier League champions would prioritise loan offers rather than selling their academy graduate permanently. With Bukayo Saka, Martin Odegaard, Eberechi Eze and summer signing Bruno Guimaraes ahead of him, substantial minutes at the Emirates look unlikely this season.
Arteta hinted at a departure on 14 August, saying he wants Nwaneri to stay but that the player "needs to play football" and that "certain players" may need to leave. Nwaneri was omitted from matchday squads for the Community Shield win over Manchester City and the Premier League opener at Aston Villa, despite scoring twice in five pre-season fixtures.
What is Ethan Nwaneri's record at Arsenal?
Nwaneri remains the youngest player ever to appear in a Premier League match, debuting aged 15 years, five months and 28 days against Brentford in September 2022. He has made 51 first-team appearances for Arsenal, with his most involved campaign coming in 2024-25 when he recorded nine goals and two assists across 37 outings.
He spent the second half of last season on loan at Marseille, appearing nine times in Ligue 1 with only three starts. Goal.com noted the spell was largely disappointing, with limited minutes in the closing weeks. Nwaneri is under contract at Arsenal until 2030.
Could Dortmund pursue other targets instead?
Reports on Monday painted a mixed picture. Sky suggested an agreement for Nwaneri was becoming increasingly unlikely by Monday evening, while transfer expert Sacha Tavolieri said Dortmund remained optimistic. Goal.com also reported that BVB are pushing to sign Marcel Regula from Zaglebie Lubin as an alternative attacking-midfield option, with Meczyki reporting advanced talks and a fee below €10 million.
Whether Dortmund could sign both Regula and Nwaneri remains unclear. Sporting directors Lars Ricken and Ole Book stayed behind to assess transfer options while the squad played in the DFB Cup. For more late-window developments, follow our Fintech & Crypto Alerts hub.