Arsenal clear-out begins: Nuno Tavares departs permanently after proving himself in Serie A

Arsenal have confirmed the permanent departure of Nuno Tavares to Lazio following a season-long loan with the Serie A side.

The 25-year-old defender signs a three-year deal running until June 2028 after Lazio activated their option to buy him for a fee believed to be between £6 million and £7 million.

Tavares initially joined Arsenal from Benfica in 2021 but never fully settled in north London, making just 28 appearances in all competitions.

He scored once for the Gunners, finding the net in a 3-1 win over Manchester United in April 2022, but struggled to cement a starting place under Mikel Arteta.

After a difficult debut season in the Premier League, he spent the following three campaigns on loan with Marseille, Nottingham Forest and Lazio.

His spell at Marseille during the 2022/23 season was the most productive, yielding six goals in 39 appearances and helping the French side to a third-place finish in Ligue 1.

Tavares followed that with a brief stint at Nottingham Forest, making 12 appearances in the Premier League and FA Cup.

Last season at Lazio, the Lisbon-born full-back impressed with nine assists in 30 appearances across all competitions, including a blistering start that saw him register eight assists in the first 10 league matches.

His performances earned him a first senior cap for Portugal in November 2024, coming off the bench in a 5-1 win over Poland in the UEFA Nations League.

Arsenal have inserted a sell-on clause in the deal, reportedly worth up to 25 per cent, which could see them benefit further should Lazio choose to sell the defender.

Reports in Italy suggest the club may already be considering such a move, aiming to turn a quick profit after his strong season in Rome.

Tavares becomes Arsenal’s first confirmed permanent departure of the summer as the club begins to reshape its squad ahead of the 2025/26 campaign.

His exit comes alongside the expected departures of Kieran Tierney and Jorginho, with other decisions still to come regarding the futures of senior players like Thomas Partey.

Arsenal thanked Tavares for his time at the club in an official statement and wished him well in the next stage of his career.

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