Como have stepped up their push to sign Ethan Nwaneri this summer, with Cesc Fabregas’ club among the sides pressing hardest for Arsenal’s 19-year-old record-breaker. The Italian side have already made checks on the forward and are preparing to argue that a move to a club in Champions League football next season could offer the right next step.
Nwaneri made his Arsenal debut at 15 years and 181 days old against Brentford in September 2022, and he still holds the record as the club’s youngest-ever player. That breakout has kept him on the radar of clubs across England and Europe, but the timing of this chase matters because the summer window is opening and his next season now hangs on whether Arsenal can offer him a clearer route to senior minutes.
Fabregas’ side are not the only club watching. Newcastle United have long admired Nwaneri’s versatility and technical quality, while Aston Villa and Everton are monitoring developments as they look to strengthen their attacking options. Coventry City and Ipswich Town would also welcome the chance to take him on loan, and Borussia Dortmund and RB Leipzig are interested too, with Dortmund tracking him for several years.
For Como, the attraction is not just the player, but the timing around their own squad. Real Madrid are expected to activate their buy-back option for Nico Paz this summer, and the Spain midfielder is viewed as one of Como’s prized assets. His return would leave a gap that the club believe Nwaneri could help fill, which is why they are open to discussing a loan with an option to buy or a permanent transfer.
Arsenal, though, still value Nwaneri highly and regard him as one of the finest talents to come through Hale End in recent years. That is where the problem begins. Sources close to the player say concerns remain over how many first-team opportunities he is likely to get next season under Mikel Arteta, and that uncertainty is what has turned interest into a live transfer race.
The next move now depends on whether Arsenal are willing to talk about a temporary exit or a sale. If they hold firm, Nwaneri could stay and fight for minutes at the club where he made history as a teenager. If they open the door, Como have already positioned themselves to try to make the strongest case.
