Why both Myles Lewis-Skelly and Ethan Nwaneri could leave Arsenal in summer transfer window

Arsenal youngster Ethan Nwaneri and Myles Lewis-Skelly are two players on plenty of clubs' radars this summer with exits for both in the transfer window a genuine possibility

There is a possibility that both Myles Lewis-Skelly and Ethan Nwaneri could leave Arsenal this summer transfer window. Less than 12 months ago, the pair were in discussions over new deals, which they would indeed sign.

Both academy graduates committed their futures to the club, locking in two of the country's most highly regarded young starlets. Yet fast-forward to three months into 2026 and the scenario could not be more different.

Lewis-Skelly has made a total of 26 appearances this season but has earned just over 300 minutes of action in the Premier League. The 19-year-old broke into the side last season, ousting Oleksandr Zinchenko from the number two left-back slot and exploiting the lack of availability of Riccardo Calafiori.

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His impressive performances in the league and Europe, including back-to-back starts in wins over Real Madrid, would earn him a call-up to Thomas Tuchel’s England squad, where he scored on his debut. However, in the summer the club signed Piero Hincapie on loan with an expectation football.london understands that the move will be made permanent this summer.

The greater availability of Calafiori and the impressive form of Hincapie in recent months has seen Lewis-Skelly slip to third in the pecking order. Luck has not been on the player’s side, as when it was expected he would feature in midfield in the FA Cup against Wigan Athletic, a position many believe to be his best and his future, an injury to Calafiori in the warm-up meant he was pulled again into the back four.

Lewis-Skelly has put in some excellent performances in his reduced exposure to minutes, including against Atletico Madrid and Inter Milan. Two incredibly tough opponents, which highlighted his talent, are ready to be harnessed.

But with the pressure and desperation to win major silverware this season, Arteta has leaned on his more senior players. Yet both Calafiori and Hincapie are only 23 and 24 years of age, respectively, meaning their best years remain ahead of them, without an exit of one, Lewis-Skelly’s pathway seems blocked.

Even in midfield, football.london understands a central midfielder is a position the club will be looking to strengthen this summer, and with Declan Rice, Eberechi Eze, Kai Havertz and Mikel Merino all available to play the left eight position, this too seems tricky.

Ethan Nwaneri left in January to get some important and regular game time. Joining Marseille until the end of the season, it might have been that the 18-year-old would have been playing on the continent much sooner.

football.london understands that a move to Borussia Dortmund in the summer of 2025 was a real possibility. However, as mentioned, the club managed to secure his future, and he stayed in North London.

Yet he got around half the minutes on the field in the Premier League as his good friend Lewis-Skelly. Scoring in a rare start for the Gunners as they beat Brighton to reach the quarter-finals of the League Cup, where he would remain an unused substitute for the win on penalties over Crystal Palace.

Nwaneri also has the emerging problem of Max Dowman. Both players are seen as central players for the future in attacking areas, and the 16-year-old is already making an impact in games with the senior team.

Catching the headlines with even suggestions that a senior England call-up might not be too far away if he begins to make a more consistent showing for Arsenal’s first team, Dowman looks like the player who would be the priority to invest minutes into over Nwaneri.

While Nwaneri’s loan in France has not gone amazingly well, despite a goal and an assist in big moments, interest in the player is understood to have remained across many of Europe’s top clubs. Arsenal will not be short of offers for the pair this summer, and with a focus on improving the club’s outgoings, these two would represent the opportunity to make serious money and what is described as “pure profit” having come through the academy.

Arsenal’s latest financial results recorded a £1.7million loss, which represented another positive step toward profit, but the results of 2025 were greatly aided by the sales of Emile Smith Rowe, Aaron Ramsdale and Eddie Nketiah. In next year’s accounts, player sales will not be close to as impressive, with the likes of Marquinhos and Nuno Tavares’ meagre fees the only exits of real note.

Therefore, attention turns to the summer, and while others like Gabriel Jesus, Ben White and Gabriel Martinelli are already looking like potential departures which should bring in solid returns, both Nwaneri and Lewis-Skelly situations are open. Whether both, one, or neither remains by the close of the summer window is not something anyone would say with guaranteed certainty.