Arsenal have built in a special provision to recall Ethan Nwaneri from his loan at Borussia Dortmund as early as January 1, 2027.
According to Sky Sport Deutschland, this recalling clause was a key demand from the London club during negotiations. Arsenal insisted on this option due to the limited depth in their attacking line — the club wanted to maintain the ability to swiftly bring Nwaneri back if he is needed in the second half of the season.
🔴 Why does Arsenal have a recall option?
Nwaneri has joined Dortmund on a season-long loan without an option to buy, as Arsenal still view the 19-year-old as having a long-term future at the club.
The competition for places within the Gunners' attacking setup remains fierce, while Nwaneri requires regular game time. Therefore, a loan was deemed the best option for his development, but Arsenal were keen not to relinquish complete control of the situation.
If Arsenal require an additional attacking player this winter, or if Nwaneri’s playing time in Germany proves unsatisfactory, they can activate this clause and bring him back.
🟡 Borussia secured financial protection
For Dortmund, this condition posed no serious financial risk.
According to Sky Sport, should Arsenal decide to trigger the recall clause, Borussia will not incur any costs related to the loan fee. Furthermore, Arsenal must notify the German side in advance of their intention to recall the player.
This will give Dortmund ample time to find a replacement for Nwaneri during the winter transfer window.
Nwaneri’s move to Borussia occurred towards the end of the summer transfer window. The German club is looking to utilise the talented midfielder following a significant injury to Giannis Konstantelias, which created an urgent need for reinforcements. However, Borussia do not hold an option to buy the Englishman.
Consequently, Nwaneri begins the season in Dortmund, but Arsenal have retained all levers of influence over his future. From January 1, 2027, the Gunners will have the opportunity to recall one of their most promising young talents.
