Arsenal sent Ethan Nwaneri to Marseille during the winter transfer window, hoping the youngster would gain valuable first-team experience in France.
The move initially looked perfect for all parties involved. Marseille pushed hard to secure the attacking midfielder despite interest from several Premier League clubs.
Roberto De Zerbi personally wanted the teenager and even held talks with Mikel Arteta regarding the player’s development before the deal went through. Nwaneri also started brightly in Ligue 1.
The England Under-21 international scored only 13 minutes into his debut against Lens and quickly generated excitement among Marseille supporters. However, things soon changed in France.
Marseille struggled badly during the second half of the season under Habib Beye. Meanwhile, Nwaneri gradually lost his place in the squad.
The midfielder became an unused substitute in five of Marseille’s final six Ligue 1 matches despite the club’s poor form.
Beye later questioned the youngster’s effort in training when asked about his lack of opportunities. That situation eventually created financial consequences for Marseille.
According to football.london, Arsenal inserted penalty clauses linked to Nwaneri’s playing time. The original loan fee stood at around £1.3 million.
However, Marseille must now pay Arsenal extra money because the midfielder failed to reach the agreed appearance thresholds.
The exact figures remain confidential, but Arsenal reportedly expected the youngster to receive significantly more minutes in Ligue 1.
Nwaneri finished his spell in France with just two goals and one. One of the biggest turning points arrived shortly after his move when Marseille parted company with De Zerbi.
The Italian strongly supported the move and viewed Nwaneri as an important part of his project. However, after his departure, the teenager struggled badly for consistent opportunities.
Now, Arsenal are preparing to welcome the midfielder back this summer, although another loan or permanent move still remains possible.
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