Arsenal line up first summer transfer as academy graduate set to depart | OneFootball

Young defender’s contract negotiations hit a dead end

Arsenal defender Josh Nichols has agreed to sign for Croatian club NK Kustosija following the expiration of his contract next month.

The 19-year-old, who was part of Arsenal’s title-winning squad, will sign a two-year contract at NK Kustosija.

Nichols made his only senior appearance for the Gunners against Bolton Wanderers in the Carabao Cup in 2024.

Nichols progressed through Arsenal’s Hale End Academy before signing professional terms at the club in 2024.

Despite being in and around the first team, Nichols has found minutes hard to come by under Mikel Arteta and leaves the club in search of regular game time.

Josh Nichols was a regular in Arsenal first-team training

Getty

Arsenal are expected to sanction the departures of several first-team players this summer, with Gabriel Martinelli, Leandro Trossard and Ethan Nwaneri all thought to be up for sale.

Having lifted their first Premier League title in 22 years, Arteta is keen to bolster his squad but knows that he will have to move players on in order to make room for any new arrivals.

Arsenal fell short in the Champions League final last weekend as Paris Saint-Germain won 4-3 on penalties to deny Arteta’s men a historic double.

The Gunners will hope to go one better next season, with midfielder Declan Rice declaring at the club’s Premier League trophy parade on Sunday that they “are coming back for more” next term.

“I love this team, I love this manager,” Rice said on Arsenal.com.

“To see the joy we can give people, it’s crazy.

“But next year we’re coming back for more. Lock in or get locked out.”