Arsenal confirm transfer of 25yo who will be immediately resold for profit | OneFootball

Nuno Tavares leaves Arsenal following an inconsistent spell that saw him loaned out three times, with Lazio now reportedly looking to sell him on immediately.

Photo by Marco Rosi – SS Lazio/Getty Images

The Portuguese left-back joined Arsenal from Benfica in July 2021 for a reported £7 million. He made 28 appearances in total and scored once, finding the net in a 3–1 win over Manchester United in April 2022.

Despite showing flashes of promise, particularly going forward, his lack of defensive discipline ultimately saw him fall out of favour under Mikel Arteta.

Tavares spent the past three seasons out on loan. He enjoyed a productive spell with Marseille in 2022–23, scoring six times in 39 games, and spent the following year with Nottingham Forest, although injuries restricted him to just 12 appearances.

He joined Lazio on loan in 2024–25 and made 30 appearances, providing nine assists, eight of which came in his first 10 league games.

Photo by Marco Rosi – SS Lazio/Getty Images

His form in Italy earned him a senior debut for Portugal in November 2024, coming on in a 5–1 win against Poland in the UEFA Nations League. It was a milestone that hinted at a turning point in his career, but injuries once again hampered his progress.

During the second half of the season with Lazio, Tavares suffered three separate muscular injuries. He first sustained a hamstring issue in November, followed by an adductor problem in January. A third setback arrived in March. Although he returned briefly, he was forced off again after only 26 minutes in a match against Bodo/Glimt in April and did not feature again.

Corriere dello Sport5 Mar 2025

Two weeks ago, Italian outlet Il Messaggero report that Lazio had activated their option to buy and have already placed Tavares on the market in the hope of turning an immediate profit.

Estimates on the value of the clause vary, with reports placing it between €5 million and €9 million, or roughly £4.2 million to £7.6 million. A sell-on clause was included in the deal, with sources split between 25 percent and 40 percent of any future fee returning to Arsenal.

Photo by Julian Finney / Getty Images

Lazio’s intent appears to be to cash in quickly, but Arsenal’s business is done. The club issued a short statement thanking Tavares for his contribution and wishing him well in the future. They will no doubt be looking forward to the extra cash from his sell-on, especially if they are planning on spending €38m on a 17-year-old.

Tavares joined Benfica’s academy in 2015 and won silverware with the first team at the age of 19, featuring in a 5–0 win over Sporting CP in the Portuguese Super Cup. His pace and attacking instincts were never in question, but repeated positional lapses and undisciplined performances ensured he never settled in the Premier League.

The sale brings to an end a spell that never quite lived up to its early promise. Arsenal, who invested modestly in the player, now walk away with at least a partial return and the possibility of more through the sell-on clause.

For Tavares, the next chapter depends on staying fit and finally delivering on the potential that once earned him a place at one of Europe’s top clubs.