Nwaneri: Super Eagles-eligible star reveals why he quickly chose Marseille over staying at Arsenal

Arsenal youngster Ethan Nwaneri has revealed how he wasted no time agreeing to join Olympique Marseille, Afrik Foot reports. 

The 18-year-old, eligible to represent Nigeria and France through his parents, described the Ligue 1 giants as the perfect place to continue his development at the senior level.

Nwaneri moved to France on loan during the 2026 winter transfer window and has already begun settling into life at the Stade Vélodrome after making an encouraging start to his Marseille career, including a goalscoring debut and regular first-team involvement.

Nwaneri’s comment on Marseille move

Nwaneri admitted the decision to move to France was an easy one once the opportunity arose, he stressed that the club’s stature and playing style convinced him immediately.

“When I heard it, I didn’t even think,” Nwaneri told R.org. “My answer straight away was yes because I think this was a great opportunity. “Marseille is such a massive club. The coach has his style, the players play for the fans, and you can see how good the fans are. “You feel a responsibility that you want to please these guys.”

The England youth international added that the passion of Marseille supporters and the intensity of the club’s identity were major factors behind his decision to accept the move without hesitation.

Arsenal-to-Marseille transfer details

Nwaneri joined Marseille from Arsenal on loan for the remainder of the 2025–26 season, with the Premier League side keen for the midfielder to gain consistent first-team experience after limited opportunities in north London.

The move has already shown early promise, with the teenager featuring regularly under Marseille’s coaching staff and making an immediate impact with a goal on his league debut.

His loan spell in France is expected to play a key role in his development as Arsenal continue to monitor his progress closely.