Super Eagles target leaves Marseille after difficult spell amidst Chelsea, Como interest

Super Eagles hopeful Ethan Nwaneri has left Marseille after the end of his six-month loan spell, returning to Arsenal ahead of the 2026/27 season, Soccernet.ng reports.

The 19-year-old attacking midfielder joined the French Ligue 1 club in January 2026 hoping to gain regular first-team football under then-manager Roberto De Zerbi. The move was expected to help his development and strengthen his chances of becoming a regular at Arsenal.

However, things changed almost immediately. De Zerbi left Marseille just 18 days after Nwaneri's arrival, forcing the youngster to work under new coach Habib Beye. The managerial change had a huge effect on his playing opportunities.

Beye preferred experienced players as Marseille battled through a difficult period and publicly questioned Nwaneri's commitment in training. As a result, the teenager found himself on the bench for much of the second half of the season.

Nwaneri started only one of Marseille's final 10 Ligue 1 matches and did not start another game after February 8. He made nine league appearances, played just 324 minutes and scored once on his debut before returning to Arsenal at the end of the loan.

Super Eagles at alert as Arsenal decide Nwaneri's future

Although his spell in France did not go as planned, Nwaneri remains one of England's brightest young talents and continues to attract interest from several clubs across Europe.

The midfielder is under contract with Arsenal until 2030, but breaking into Mikel Arteta's first team will be difficult. Arsenal are still looking to strengthen their attack this summer, with Morgan Rogers among the players linked with a move to the Emirates Stadium. If another midfielder arrives, Nwaneri could move even further down the pecking order.

Italian side Como, managed by former Arsenal captain Cesc Fàbregas, are interested in signing him on loan with an option to buy. Chelsea and German giants Borussia Dortmund have also been linked with the highly-rated youngster.

Despite his lack of game time at Marseille, Nwaneri's reputation remains strong. England manager Thomas Tuchel included him in the Three Lions' training camp in the United States ahead of the FIFA World Cup, where he impressed by scoring in a training match against Miami United.

Still, Nwaneri remains a player to watch for Nigerian football fans. The Super Eagles-eligible youngster is on the radar of head coach Eric Chelle and is seen as a long-term replacement for centurion Alex Iwobi, who also decided for Nigeria while still a youngster at Arsenal.

Nwaneri faces a crucial summer as Arsenal decide whether to keep him, send him out on another loan, or allow him to begin a new chapter elsewhere.