Borussia Dortmund have reached a verbal agreement to sign Ethan Nwaneri on a season-long loan from Arsenal. Fabrizio Romano said Nwaneri said yes to the move overnight, and BVB sources say Dortmund will cover the player's salary entirely. BBC Sport had already reported earlier this month that Arsenal would prioritise loan offers and do not want to sell him.
Dortmund's move and the medical steps left
The deal still has a little way to run before anything is final. BBC Sport reported that Nwaneri is expected to arrive in Germany for a medical before the Bundesliga transfer deadline at 19:00 BST, which fits the more cautious picture around the move. The hard part appears done, but the paperwork and checks still matter.
Dortmund are not taking on a player from a bottom-half squad hoping to hide him away. They finished second in the 2025 Bundesliga with 73 points, so this is a loan to a club that should offer proper pressure and proper visibility. For Arsenal, the logic is plain enough after last season's 85 points and 71 league goals. Attackers are competing for minutes in a strong side, and a temporary exit makes more sense than letting a young player sit.
Arsenal's depth opens the door
The move also fits Arsenal's own summer shape. Their attacking options are crowded, and that leaves less room for a teenager like Nwaneri to build momentum in the first team. BBC's line that the club wanted loan offers rather than a sale points in the same direction, and Romano's update adds that the player has already accepted the idea.
There is also a pathway issue here that goes beyond one deal. Riccardo Calafiori is one of the names Arsenal have around the squad, and their depth across the pitch means a loan can be the cleaner route for Nwaneri's development. If the move goes through before 19:00 BST, Dortmund will get him on a season-long loan and Arsenal will keep hold of a player they do not want to lose permanently.
Written by Jack Mercer with AI-assisted research, cross-checked against 2 outlets. How we work →
