Ethan Nwaneri joins Borussia Dortmund on a season-long loan from Arsenal. The 19-year-old midfielder made 51 appearances for the Gunners and debuted in the Premier League in 2022 at just 15 years and 181 days old.
Ethan Nwaneri said he was ready to leave after hearing about Dortmund’s interest. Within just a few hours, advanced talks were taking place behind the scenes. He spoke with Jobe Bellingham in the last few days, who encouraged him to make the move. Nwaneri added that adapting to a new football culture feels easier this time, as he is now more mentally prepared, relaxed, and open to leaving his comfort zone.
Last season, Nwaneri spent the second half on loan at Marseille, scoring twice in 11 appearances. For Arsenal, he has scored ten times. His experience abroad and development since his early professional debut make him a compelling option for Dortmund’s midfield.
The BVB began the 2026/27 Bundesliga season with a win over Hamburg and currently sits 5th with 3 points from one game (1W-0D-0L). They have scored two goals and conceded none so far this season. Giannis Konstantelias remains sidelined with an ACL injury suffered on Matchday 1, alongside Justin Lerma, Nico Schlotterbeck, and Ramy Bensebaini.
Borussia Dortmund travels to face 1899 Hoffenheim on Saturday, September 5, 2026, with the visitors currently 12th in the table. Nwaneri could feature in that match, potentially earning his first appearance for the club.
Ethan Nwaneri said: “As soon as I heard about BVB's interest and a meeting took place, everything developed very quickly.” He also stated: “After just a few hours, there were advanced talks taking place behind the scenes.” For more on the squad, visit our squad page, and check upcoming games on our fixtures page.
