Arsenal teenager Ethan Nwaneri is set to join Borussia Dortmund on a season-long loan, with the highly rated youngster heading to Germany in search of regular first-team football.
Nwaneri to Dortmund to complete his medical and finalise the move before the transfer window closes.
Arsenal have agreed to send Nwaneri to the Bundesliga club after deciding that regular minutes would be difficult to guarantee him in Mikel Arteta’s current squad.
Nwaneri is regarded as one of the most exciting products to emerge from Arsenal’s academy in recent years. He made history in September 2022 when, aged just 15 years and 181 days, he became the youngest player to appear in the Premier League. Since then, he has made 51 senior appearances for the Gunners and scored 10 goals.
🚨🟡⚫️ EXCLUSIVE: Borussia Dortmund reach verbal agreement to sign Ethan Nwaneri from Arsenal, here we go!
Season long loan agreed from Arsenal as Nwaneri said yes to this possibility overnight.
BVB sources confirm salary will be entirely covered by the Geeman club. pic.twitter.com/V455sTaPeZ
— Fabrizio Romano (@FabrizioRomano) September 1, 2026
The England Under-21 international spent part of last season on loan at Marseille, where he made nine appearances and scored twice. However, his time in France did not provide the consistent playing time Arsenal had hoped for, making the Dortmund move another opportunity for the youngster to develop at senior level.
Dortmund’s interest intensified after attacking midfielder Giannis Konstantelias suffered an ACL injury, leaving Niko Kovac’s side looking for another creative option. Nwaneri is expected to provide competition in the attacking midfield and wide areas while gaining valuable Bundesliga and Champions League experience.
The move could also produce an intriguing storyline in the Champions League. Arsenal and Dortmund are both in this season’s competition, and UEFA rules mean loan agreements cannot prevent a player from facing his parent club. Nwaneri could therefore potentially line up against Arsenal when the teams meet later in the campaign.
