Ethan Nwaneri set to sign new 5-year deal at Arsenal

Arsenal are making significant strides towards securing the long-term future of highly-rated teenager Ethan Nwaneri. After months of speculation and rival interest, talks over a new deal have accelerated, and there is growing confidence a breakthrough is close.

We reported last week, in response to rumours of Ethan potentially not extending: ‘Sources close to the club have told Fresh Arsenal that a new deal for Nwaneri was already close to being agreed by the end of last season. Only minor details are thought to be left to finalise. That would secure the future of a player many inside the club see as a future first-team regular.’

Today this has been supported by two major sources in Sami Mokbel and Fabrizio Romano.

According to Fabrizio Romano, Arsenal have made progress in recent days and are now hopeful of receiving the green light to finalise a new contract. The club have presented a clear project to Nwaneri and his camp, which includes plans for senior game time and a structured development pathway under Mikel Arteta.

That optimism is echoed by BBC Sport, who report that Arsenal are set to formally offer the 18-year-old a new long-term contract. The proposed deal is expected to be either five years in length, or four years with the option of a further year. Talks are understood to be in an advanced stage, with all parties keen to reach an agreement.

Nwaneri, who turned 18 in March, made 37 appearances in all competitions for Arsenal last season, scoring nine goals. A regular for England’s Under-21 side, the attacking midfielder is considered one of the most promising academy products to emerge from Hale End in recent years.

Despite interest from clubs like Chelsea and Manchester City in the past, Arsenal have remained determined to keep hold of Nwaneri. His current deal expires at the end of next season, but there is now strong momentum behind a renewal that would tie him to the Emirates for the long term.

Locking down Nwaneri would be a major statement from the club’s youth strategy, following in the footsteps of Bukayo Saka and Myles Lewis-Skelly, who signed earlier this summer.

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