Reiss Nelson ends long association with Arsenal

Reiss Nelson’s lengthy Arsenal career, which stretches back to 2007, has come to an end after his contract was terminated by mutual consent.

There was always a buzz about Nelson when he was coming through the ranks at Hale End and he frequently stood out as he played above his age group.

Nelson’s directness and trickery offered hope for a bright future and he featured for the U21s as a schoolboy as well as having involvement with the first-team in training.

During the 2015-16 season Nelson was essentially a full-time player despite not being eligible for a scholarship until the following year.

In 2017 he made his senior debut as a substitute against Chelsea in the Community Shield and later that season featured in the Premier League against Crystal Palace.

The 2017-18 season was an especially memorable campaign for Nelson as he was also part of the Arsenal U23 side which won the Premier League 2 title, the last Gunners team to do so.

Nelson impressed during a loan spell at Hoffenheim and also had a stint with Feyenoord, while he featured for England at U21 level and was part of the Arsenal squad that won the FA Cup in 2020.

Further first-team involvement followed and his late winner against Bournemouth in 2023 will be remembered for a very long time.

Nelson was subsequently offered a new contract that summer but the deal didn’t work out as hoped as he struggled with injuries and struggled to impose himself in the first-team, with loan spells at Fulham and Brentford following.

Now aged 26, Nelson will be eager to play regularly elsewhere but his place in The Hale End history books will never be forgotten.