Arsenal Can Hand Mikel Arteta Huge Boost With Transfer Windfall
Portuguese left-back Nuno Tavares has become one of the most talked-about former Arsenal loanees as the transfer market moves into a decisive phase, with a significant contract clause now shaping his future and Arsenal’s financial prospects.
Tavares left Arsenal in the summer of 2025 after spending the previous season on loan at Serie A club Lazio, where he impressed during his time in Italy’s top flight.
Lazio activated a clause in his initial loan deal, completing a permanent transfer for the 25-year-old defender. The move took him off Arsenal’s books but left the Gunners with potential future financial rewards tied to his next destination.
The structure of the transfer was modest in headline terms — Lazio paid a relatively small fee of around €7-9 million to make his loan move permanent, a figure that reflected Arsenal’s willingness to let him go after a series of loan spells, which included time at Marseille and Nottingham Forest earlier in his career.
However, what has kept Tavares in the spotlight long after his departure from north London is the sell-on clause Arsenal negotiated as part of the deal.
Sources from Italy indicate that Lazio agreed to include a clause that will see Arsenal receive a significant percentage — widely reported to be between 25 % and 40 % — of any future transfer fee should Tavares be sold again.
That clause has now come into focus after Lazio began discussing a potential move for Tavares this January, with Besiktas reported to have made an opening offer for the left-back.
According to transfer gossip and reports out of Italy, the Turkish side have submitted an offer in the region of €9-10 million, although Lazio are understood to be holding out for closer to €15 million to let him go.
For Arsenal, that kind of fee — even at the lower end of reported figures — could translate into a substantial payout thanks to the sell-on percentage they retained.
If the clause is on the higher end of estimates, Gunners supporters could see nearly half of Tavares’ transfer income come back to Arsenal, even though the club let him go for a modest amount just a year ago.
The situation highlights the value of negotiating smart clauses in transfer deals, especially for young players whose careers can take unexpected turns once they leave their parent club.
In Tavares’ case, Arsenal’s foresight could pay dividends if Lazio accept an offer that activates the clause this month.Tavares’ trajectory from Arsenal youth product to Serie A regular has been far from straightforward.
After joining from Benfica in 2021, he struggled to establish himself under Mikel Arteta and was sent out on multiple loans in search of regular playing time and development opportunities.
His most successful spell before Lazio came during a loan at Marseille, where he rediscovered some confidence and form in Ligue 1, and later a mixed period at Nottingham Forest in the Premier League.
But it was in Rome where he arguably shone brightest, providing a strong attacking threat from left-back and adapting well to the tactical demands of Italian football.
Despite injuries and inconsistent game time this season — he has seen fewer minutes than expected after an early stretch as a starter — his value in the market has remained high enough for Lazio to consider letting him go rather than keeping him on the fringes.
Lazio’s willingness to sell is tied not just to finances but to squad dynamics and their own transfer planning.
Reports suggest they have a replacement lined up and are looking to reshape their defensive options, making this the opportune moment for Tavares to move on.
From Arsenal’s perspective, Tavares’ story is a reminder of how loan decisions can have long-term implications. While the club chose to move him permanently after multiple spells away, the sell-on clause ensures that Arsenal remain financially invested in his next move — a smart piece of business should a fresh transfer materialise soon.
As the January window progresses, all eyes will be on how talks develop between Lazio and interested suitors.
Should Tavares secure a move that activates the clause, Arsenal could benefit from a healthy windfall — despite the fact that he has not featured for them since 2022 — while Lazio look to reinvest in their squad.
For Tavares himself, a new club represents a chance to reset his career and build on what he began in Serie A.
But for Arsenal, the next chapter in this transfer saga could be as much about off-field strategy and financial reward as it is about where he ends up playing next.
