Dortmund worked until deadline day to complete Ethan Nwaneri loan deal

Borussia Dortmund had to work deep into deadline day to complete the loan signing of Arsenal teenager Ethan Nwaneri, according to reports in Germany.

Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta initially had reservations about letting the 19-year-old attacking midfielder leave, as he was unsure whether Nwaneri could still be needed in his first-team plans.

Dortmund officials, led by sporting director Ole Book, reportedly held talks with Arsenal late into the night to persuade the Premier League club that the move would benefit all parties. Their efforts paid off, with Nwaneri arriving in Dortmund on Tuesday to finalise a season-long loan agreement.

The deal does not include an option to buy, meaning the England youth international remains fully tied to Arsenal beyond the current campaign. Dortmund see the highly rated youngster as a valuable addition for their attacking department, where his creativity, technical quality and ability to operate between the lines could offer fresh solutions.

The Bundesliga club moved quickly for Nwaneri after Giannis Konstantelias suffered a serious cruciate ligament injury. The Greek midfielder is expected to be sidelined for several months, creating an urgent need for reinforcement. Nwaneri now has the opportunity to gain regular senior minutes while helping Dortmund compete across domestic and European fronts.