Arsenal will have to make several big calls in the summer transfer window with players returning from their loan spells
Brentford have confirmed that Reiss Nelson has returned to Arsenal after a season-long loan with Keith Andrews’ team. The 26-year-old endured an injury-hit campaign, limiting him to 14 appearances for the Bees.
Brentford had the option to make his move permanent if Nelson had sufficiently impressed Bees boss Andrews. The midfielder featured once for Arsenal last season before joining Fulham on a temporary basis.
The Gunners academy graduate is entering the final year of his contract and Arsenal will be looking for a sale. His homegrown status means any transfer fee received will represent pure profit – providing a welcome boost for the Gunners’ compliance with profit and sustainability rules.
“Reiss Nelson has returned to Arsenal following the conclusion of his season-long loan deal,” Brentford put in a statement on social media.
“We thank Reiss for his contribution to a good season for the club, and wish him well in everything he goes on to in the future.”
And Brentford director of football Phil Giles has praised Nelson while describing his contribution to Andrews’ men to the club’s official website on Friday.
He said: “Reiss came at the end of last summer’s transfer window having not played significant minutes since December 2024 while on loan at Fulham.
“Whilst I’m sure he would’ve preferred more Premier League minutes with us during the loan, he has nevertheless made a good contribution with his positivity, attitude and experience around training and matchdays, and leaves us in a better place physically then when he joined.
“On behalf of everyone at Brentford, I’d like to thank Reiss for his contribution to a good season for the club, and wish him well in everything he goes on to in the future.”
Persistent injuries have been the biggest obstacle to Nelson’s career in his early to mid-20s. He underwent surgery while on loan with Fulham during the previous season, which cut short what was looking like a promising spell with Marco Silva’s side.
The Portuguese coach was very fond of Nelson and had been a key driver behind their interest last summer. However he ended up moving to the Bees and now faces an uncertain future ahead of the summer transfer window opening on June 15.
Arsenal head coach Mikel Arteta has previously stated his belief that Nelson could reach “the next level”. The Englishman has 90 first-team appearances for the Gunners – scoring eight goals and providing nine assists.
Speaking in late 2022, Arteta said: “We think the potential is there and we think we’ve seen something in Reiss that is special.
“He’s been a part of our academy system and now he’s going to have an opportunity. He’s been out for almost three months with an injury, he’s back now, he’s fully fit and he’s ready to play. He just needs minutes now.
“His attitude and the way he’s matured and evolved over the past year or so has been really impressive, I think everybody is talking about it and now he needs to do it on the pitch.”
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