The deal Arsenal are now ‘likely’ to do with Fulham over Reiss Nelson

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Reiss Nelson is set to leave Arsenal and sign for Fulham, with the deal likely to be a loan with an option to buy, Arsenal Insider understands.

The winger spent the duration of the 2024/25 season at Craven Cottage on a temporary deal, although he was limited to just 12 appearances across all competitions due to injury.

Despite this, several Premier League clubs are said to have expressed interest in the Hale End graduate this summer, including the Cottagers and Crystal Palace.

Fulham lead the race to sign Nelson and are expected to wrap up a deal for the player in the coming weeks.

• READ MORE: Confirmed Arsenal summer 2025 transfer ins and outs, signings and done deals

Reiss Nelson ‘likely’ to sign for Fulham on loan with an option to buy

Reiss Nelson’s time at Arsenal has been hampered by injury.

Despite being at the club since the age of nine and making his senior debut in 2017, the 25-year-old has managed just 90 appearances across eight years in the first team at the Emirates.

Although three separate loan spells have meant he hasn’t been in N5 for the entirety of these eight seasons, he’d have hoped to have featured more for his boyhood club.

Now surplus to requirements under Mikel Arteta, it’s time for the technical wide man to find a new club and play regularly.

Nelson likely played his final Arsenal game on Thursday against Tottenham, as he moves closer to sourcing a new place to ply his trade.

Transfer expert Graeme Bailey told Arsenal Insider that the Gunners are likely to compromise on their stance on selling Nelson permanently, by sanctioning another loan move to Fulham, with a purchase option included in the deal.

“Arsenal would rather a permanent, Fulham want a loan,” Bailey said.

“I think it’ll be a loan, with some sort of attainable option in there. Arsenal realise the situation with his injuries, so they know what Fulham are thinking.

“It’s one of those balancing acts where, if Arsenal sold him permanently, they’d have to accept a lot less than they might get for a loan with an option.

“So I think they’ll likely compromise and allow Fulham that deal. Much more likely to be a loan.”

Reiss Nelson’s statistics at Fulham were promising

Nelson was largely impressive last season for Fulham, which likely explains why the West London club want to acquire him permanently, despite his injury issues.

While the former Feyenoord loanee only played 487 minutes in the Premier League, his numbers from this small sample were extremely promising.

Amassing 0.39 non-penalty expected goals plus expected assists per 90 minutes, Nelson’s underlying metrics indicate that he could produce impressive output moving forward, if given regular game time.

Meanwhile, his carrying and dribbling statistics were particularly eye-catching, suggesting that he could be used as a high-usage winger in the right system.

While Arsenal cannot give the player the minutes he needs, Fulham may well uncover a gem next season.