Arsenal have confirmed the departure of a sixth senior men’s player within 24 hours following the release of their official retained list.
On Wednesday, the club announced that Jorginho, Nathan Butler-Oyedeji, and Kieran Tierney will leave upon the expiration of their contracts on June 30. Additionally, loanees Raheem Sterling and Neto will return to Chelsea and Bournemouth respectively as their temporary deals come to an end.
Talks are ongoing regarding Thomas Partey’s future at the Emirates, with manager Mikel Arteta having previously expressed his desire for the 31-year-old to remain with the squad.
In the women’s team, updates include discussions with Chloe Kelly about extending her stay. She is currently on loan from Manchester City, where her contract is set to expire next month.
Arsenal have now also confirmed that left-back Nuno Tavares has exited the club on a permanent basis, joining Serie A side Lazio after spending the 2024/25 season there on loan.
The Portuguese defender, who last played for Arsenal in 2022, has spent the past three seasons on loan at Marseille, Nottingham Forest, and Lazio. Reports from L’Equipe suggest that during his stint at Marseille, Tavares had disciplinary issues, including being sent off from training, and his attitude reportedly frustrated both Marseille and Arsenal coaching staff.
While his spell at Nottingham Forest saw limited appearances—just 12 across all competitions—Tavares enjoyed a more productive time at Lazio, recording eight assists in 23 Serie A games this season. His attacking abilities have always been evident; he previously netted six Ligue 1 goals while at Marseille.
According to Fabrizio Romano, Lazio will pay £7.5 million to make the move permanent, utilizing a purchase option in the original loan deal. Arsenal have also included a sell-on clause in the agreement.