Arsenal’s Ethan Nwaneri has sparked a fresh international tug-of-war after publicly embracing his Nigerian roots during his loan spell at Olympique de Marseille.
The 18-year-old—who made history as the youngest Premier League player—scored just 13 minutes into his Marseille debut last month.
When asked about following in the footsteps of Nigerian legends at the club, Nwaneri told R.org: “I’m Nigerian, and I am here to help the team as much as possible.
“The Situation:Club: On loan at Marseille from Arsenal until the end of the 2025/26 season.Form: Scored on his Ligue 1 debut against Lens; currently thriving under Roberto De Zerbi.
Eligibility: An England U21 international, Nwaneri remains eligible for the Super Eagles as he has yet to receive a senior call-up from Thomas Tuchel.
With Nigeria’s National Sports Commission actively courting the midfielder for their 2026 World Cup squad, Nwaneri’s latest comments have left the door wide open for a potential switch.