How Arsenal's 10 loaned out players fared in 2024-25 with exits expected

Arsenal had a number of promising players out on loan during the 2024/25 season and with all of them set to return to North London next season will hope they have done enough to catch Mikel Arteta’s attention

Mikel Arteta is planning a huge transformation of his squad ahead of next season. The Arsenal boss has a new midfielder and a striker on his shopping list for the summer transfer window.

And should he get those, he will be hoping to cut the gap to Liverpool at the top of the table. While some new faces could be on the way to the Emirates in the immediate future, some familiar stars are set to return over the coming months.

Arsenal sent out a collection of ten players out on loan throughout the past season, with some having far better fortune than others. Some first team stars were sent out for first-team football, while some youngsters also got the chance to earn opportunities with their adoptive clubs.

But how did they all get on? Mirror Football takes a look and gives a verdict over whether any of Arsenal’s loan contingent could play a role in the first team next season:

Having been with Arsenal since 2018, the 37-time Estonia international spent the past season in La Liga with Real Valladolid. In all, the 23-year-old made 32 appearances in all competitions, keeping five clean sheets and conceding 70 goals.

And while Hein appeared to have a positive experience from a personal point of view, it was something of a disaster for his loan side. Valladolid were relegated from the Spanish top flight with just 16 points and four wins to their name all season.

There is a vacancy as David Raya's deputy, but Arsenal are looking to the market to fill that, with Hein possibly set for a permanent exit.

After a pretty miserable debut season as an Arsenal player, Portuguese defender Nuno Tavares has been out on loan practically since 2022. He counts Marseille and Nottingham Forest as his previous employers, while he spent last season with Lazio.

The 25-year-old performed relatively well with the Serie A side, making 30 appearances in all competitions, while he provided nine assists. Lazio have an option to make the move permanent and that, looks very likely to be activated soon.

Signed from Porto in the summer of 2022, the midfielder returned to the Portuguese giants 12 months ago on a season-long loan. And it was a relatively productive season having scored five goals and provided as many assists in all competitions.

Despite his loan move expiring at the end of the season, it has been suggested that he could potentially stick around for this summer’s Club World Cup.

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The Belgian was signed amid huge promise in 2021 from Anderlecht, with frustrating spells with Crystal Palace and Luton Town coming and going. Spanish side Sevilla became his latest employers in the summer with the hope that the ‘next Yaya Toure’ could return to his best form.

In the end, he made 21 appearances in all competitions. Upon his return, Arsenal have activated an option to extend his deal by 12 months but Lokonga has already revealed he wants some stability when it comes to his career.

A product of the Arsenal youth academy, Nelson moved across London to join Premier League rivals Fulham last summer. But his opportunities were very limited to say the least.

The winger made just 12 appearances for Fulham throughout the season, with his one Premier League goal coming against Newcastle. Injury cruelly halted the end of his loan spell, with his future now up in the air.

After making just six appearances for Arsenal during his first season, Brazilian winger Marquinhos was sent out on loans to Norwich and Nantes. He then joined Fluminense last year, staying with the side until January 2025. In that time, he scored just twice.

A return to Brazil was then on the cards for Marquinhos, who moved to Cruzeiro. Despite just a handful of appearances, it appears he has done enough to earn a permanent move.

Having been at Arsenal since 2016, the 21-year-old was given his first opportunity for first-team football this season as he joined Irish side Sligo Rovers. He very quickly made his senior debut for the side.

Unfortunately, his opportunities were then limited thereafter as he made just 13 appearances for the side all season, while he returned to Arsenal in January.

Another of the Arsenal academy graduates sent out on loan, the young winger was sent to Shrewsbury Town on a season-long loan. But he too made just 18 appearances - 10 of which being starts - before being recalled by Arsenal

The brother of fellow academy graduate Arthur Okonkwo, the youngster joined Hitchen Town at the end of the January transfer window. He enjoyed a bright start to life with the side but returned to Arsenal after just four appearances.

A teenage defender, the Albania youth international signed for League Two club Bromley in February. But it was to be a short-lived affair with just three appearances before he too returned to Arsenal.