Arsenal have parted ways with eight academy players as the club undergoes a summer squad rebuild under manager Mikel Arteta. The departures were confirmed on July 1, the standard contract expiry date across most major European leagues.
Eight players leave Arsenal
The released players are Sam Chapman, Harrison Dudziak, Seb Ferdinand, Cam'ron Ismail, Will Lannin-Sweet, Josh Nichols, Samuel Onyekachukwu, and Alexei Rojas-Fedorushchenko. Most departures are due to a lack of a clear pathway to the first team at the Emirates Stadium.
Wales under-19 international Lannin-Sweet signed his first professional contract only last summer but has now left the club. He spent the latter half of last season on loan at Dagenham and Redbridge. Ferdinand, Nichols, and Onyekachukwu signed professional deals in 2024 but failed to convince the club of their readiness for senior football.
New moves for released players
Nichols has agreed to join Croatian club Kustosija, who recently secured promotion to the country's second tier. Chapman is set to move to the United States to play NCAA Division 1 football for Georgia Southern University. Colombian youth goalkeeper Rojas-Fedorushchenko had already confirmed his departure earlier this summer after eight years at Arsenal's Colney training base.
Rojas-Fedorushchenko wrote on social media: "Progressing through from the academy to the first team. Every step of the journey has taught me about what it takes to perform as an elite athlete, on and off the pitch. It has been a true privilege to work with so many elite people across the years." He added: "And to the Arsenal fans, thank you for your unwavering support, passion, and love for the club. Wearing this badge has been a privilege, and hearing your encouragement every step of the way is something I'll never forget."
Only one permanent signing so far
Arsenal's summer transfer activity has so far yielded just one new addition. Defender Piero Hincapie has joined on a permanent basis for £34.5 million after spending last season on loan from Bayer Leverkusen. The Ecuadorian played a key role in the side that ended Arsenal's 20-year wait for a Premier League title.
While fans are pleased to see Hincapie's loan made permanent, they are eager for new faces to arrive, especially after the release of eight players.
Other departures and future plans
Arsenal have also reached agreements to offload former first-team prospects Jakub Kiwior and Karl Hein. Porto have paid an initial £14.7 million to secure Kiwior on a permanent basis after his loan spell last season, while Werder Bremen will pay £2.6 million for Hein.
