Arsenal have agreed to terminate Reiss Nelson's contract with immediate effect, ending his 18-year association with the club. The 26-year-old returned to the Gunners this summer after spending last season on loan at Brentford.
Mutual decision made
Nelson had entered the final year of his contract, which included an option to extend for a further 12 months. Arsenal were keen to sell the winger, with talks taking place with West Ham over a £3million deal, but progress was slow and there was reluctance from Nelson to drop down to the Championship.
It has been decided that terminating his contract and allowing Nelson to become a free agent suits both parties. Nelson now has the freedom to consider the best option for him, whether that be staying in England or moving overseas.
Financial benefits for Arsenal
While Arsenal have not brought in a fee for Nelson, the club are content that this outcome is financially beneficial to them. Nelson was on wages of around £100,000-a-week, a significant saving for the Gunners over the next 12 months.
There was also an acceptance from the club and Nelson that he needed regular football and was not going to get that under Mikel Arteta.
Career stagnation
Nelson made only 10 league appearances for Brentford last season, one fewer than the number of times he featured for Fulham the previous year. Injuries disrupted both loan spells and Nelson's career has stagnated as a result of that lack of football. The priority is to now find a club where he will be a more central part of the manager's plans.
Nelson spent 18 years at Arsenal, rising through the academy ranks and into the first team. He made 90 appearances for the club and scored eight goals, including that 97th-minute winner against Bournemouth in the 2022-23 season as Arsenal challenged for the title for the first time under Arteta.
Arsenal's transfer plans
Arsenal hope to find moves for Gabriel Jesus and Fabio Vieira before the end of the transfer window on Tuesday night. Gabriel Martinelli, meanwhile, is on the verge of completing his transfer to Al-Hilal and is expected to travel to Saudi Arabia this weekend to finalise that deal.
