Ethan Nwaneri's 412 Minutes Could Leave Marseille Paying More

Ethan Nwaneri’s loan spell at Marseille looks expensive. The Arsenal midfielder played only 412 minutes from a possible 1710 across all competitions, and that shortfall is expected to leave Marseille owing more than the basic fee.

Nwaneri’s Marseille minutes

Marseille agreed to pay a basic loan fee in the region of £1.3million, plus undisclosed bonuses based on Nwaneri’s playing time. The more he played, the less Marseille would eventually pay, and the club also covered his salary.

He joined Marseille from Arsenal in January and was an unused substitute in five of Marseille’s final six Ligue 1 matches. That finish left his total far below the level that would have reduced the overall cost of the deal.

Arteta and Beye on Nwaneri

Habib Beye questioned Nwaneri’s application in training after replacing Roberto De Zerbi, adding pressure to a spell that never built momentum. Earlier this month, Mikel Arteta said he hoped Nwaneri would "learn" from his ordeal at the Stade Velodrome.

Nwaneri is set to return to Arsenal this summer, ending a loan that delivered few minutes and now points to an added bill for Marseille. For Arsenal, the deal has already done more than cover a temporary move; it has positioned the club to benefit from the playing-time terms built into the agreement.