Ethan Nwaneri on his rapid Borussia Dortmund move

Ethan Nwaneri has described his move from Arsenal to Borussia Dortmund as a transfer that came together almost immediately once the German club made contact.

The 19-year-old attacker said the opportunity shifted quickly from an initial discussion to advanced talks, and he was ready to leave north London as soon as Dortmund showed serious interest.

Nwaneri, Arsenal’s youngest Premier League debutant in 2022, joined Dortmund on a season-long loan after struggling for regular minutes in Mikel Arteta’s squad. His chances at Arsenal often came when injuries opened the door, and although he impressed at times in Europe and in heavy wins over top opposition, he still found starts hard to come by once key players returned.

A short loan spell at Marseille had mixed results, beginning with a goal but ending after a limited run of appearances. Dortmund then moved in after Giannis Konstantelias suffered an ACL injury, giving Nwaneri a fresh route to steady first-team football.

He said Jobe Bellingham encouraged him to join the Bundesliga side, and the change has already started well, with Nwaneri scoring for Dortmund. For him, the switch also feels personal, as he says he is calmer, more open and mentally better prepared this time around.