Ajax close to agreeing deal with Arsenal for Oleksandr Zinchenko | OneFootball

Ajax are close to agreeing a permanent transfer with Arsenal for defender Oleksandr Zinchenko.

According to NY Times, the Ukraine international joined Nottingham Forest on loan in the summer and has only four Premier League starts. He is in the final year of his Arsenal contract.

Forest do not have an option to end the 29-year-old’s season-long loan early, but as he has not played for Arsenal this term he is eligible to join a new club.

On 15 January, Sean Dyche said Forest had held talks with Zinchenko about his future at the City Ground and the game time he could expect. The full back has featured 10 times this season and was replaced in their Europa League squad by Ola Aina after Aina returned to fitness earlier this month.

Zinchenko made 23 appearances across all competitions in 2024-25 before moving to Forest. He joined Arsenal from Manchester City in a deal worth £30 million plus £2m in achievable add-ons.

He was Mikel Arteta’s preferred starting left back in his first two seasons at the Emirates Stadium, before academy graduate Myles Lewis-Skelly became the primary option. Jurrien Timber, Jakub Kiwior and Riccardo Calafiori are also options in the role.

Ajax are third in the Eredivisie after 20 games.

Source: NY Times