Arsenal academy graduate Reiss Nelson has indicated his desire to explore potential summer transfer opportunities amidst interest from four Premier League clubs. The 24-year-old, who has made 89 appearances for Arsenal since his first-team debut in 2018, is considering his future after a season of limited playing time.
Glimpses of Promise
Nelson’s notable moments last season include a dramatic goal in Arsenal’s 3-2 win over Bournemouth in March 2023, which was crucial in their Premier League title challenge. He also scored twice in a 5-0 victory over Nottingham Forest earlier in the season. These performances earned him a new contract in July 2022, extending his stay at Arsenal until the summer of 2027, with an option to extend for another year.
Despite these contributions, Nelson started only one Premier League game last season. With the need for more regular playtime to revive his career, he has informed the London club of his openness to talk to other clubs. According to The Athletic, Premier League sides West Ham, Crystal Palace, Nottingham Forest, and Fulham have shown interest in Nelson, who has previously had loan spells in Germany and the Netherlands.
Arsenal’s Transfer Strategy
The Gunners, aiming to support manager Mikel Arteta in the transfer market following back-to-back second-place finishes, are more open to letting Nelson go this summer. The club hopes to raise over £20m from his transfer. Arteta, reflecting on transfer plans, emphasized the importance of internal development alongside new signings.
“All the margins, squad-wise, the process that we have at the football club, our methodology, especially on how we can make our players better, more competitive, more consistent,” Arteta said. “The ambition is there. The players, the staff. You can sense it. They want much more. They want to start lifting trophies and that’s the next step.”
Nelson’s potential move is part of Arsenal’s broader strategy to strengthen their squad while maintaining the core elements that have brought them recent success.
