Official! Dortmund land Arsenal wonderkid after injury crisis
Borussia Dortmund have officially answered their attacking emergency: Arsenal teenager Ethan Nwaneri is a BVB player until the end of the season.
Details: The Bundesliga club confirmed the signing on their official channels, welcoming the 19 year old English midfielder. Dortmund are reacting to the injury layoff of Giannis Konstantelias, who tore his ACL at the weekend, and have taken Nwaneri on loan from Arsenal until the end of 2026/27. According to Fabrizio Romano, the German side will cover his salary in full.
Nwaneri already owns a unique place in English football history: in 2022 he became the youngest player ever to appear in the Premier League, coming off the bench against Brentford at 15 years, 5 months and 28 days. He signed a new long-term contract with Arsenal in August 2025, running until 2030, but first-team minutes dried up after the arrivals of Noni Madueke and Eberechi Eze. In January he was loaned to Marseille, scoring 13 minutes into his debut in a 3-1 win over Lens, and finished that spell with 9 goals and 2 assists. The Gunners, Premier League champions, insisted on a loan rather than a sale so they can reintegrate him next summer. For Dortmund, who had already been tracking the England Under-21 international, it is cover in the final hours of the window after Konstantelias' long-term knee injury left a hole in the attacking line.
It's worth noting that Nwaneri was among the six nominees for the PFA Young Player of the Year award in 2025, arriving at Signal Iduna Park as one of the most highly rated teenagers in Europe.
Reminder: Here we go! Borussia Dortmund pull off sensational deal for Arsenal wonderkid.
Miguel Solomons
Dailysports's expert
