Reiss Nelson

1.1. Childhood and education

Nelson attended the London Nautical School, an institution known for training young men from Inner London, often those with maritime and sporting backgrounds. He actively played football at the school, combining it with his training at the Arsenal Academy. Even after becoming a professional, he continues to act as a mentor at the school, highlighting his commitment to giving back to his community. During his childhood, Nelson formed a friendship with fellow aspiring footballer Jadon Sancho, who lived nearby, after they played together in various youth tournaments. Both Nelson and Sancho were part of a generation of successful footballers emerging from the London Borough of Lambeth and South London at the time, a group that also included notable players such as Tammy Abraham, Ademola Lookman, and Tashan Oakley-Boothe.

2.1. Arsenal youth and early professional career (2008-2018)

Nelson joined the Arsenal Academy in 2008 at the age of eight (or nine, according to some sources, such as the Japanese source). Throughout his extensive youth career at Arsenal, he was widely regarded as one of the club's most promising young talents, consistently impressing youth coaches and frequently playing in age groups several years above his own. By 2017, he was already playing for the under-21 youth team, five years ahead of his chronological age. Following his 17th birthday in December 2016, Nelson signed his first professional contract with the club.

Ahead of Arsenal's 2017-18 season, Nelson was included in manager Arsène Wenger's pre-season touring squad that traveled to Australia and China. On July 13, 2017, he made his unofficial debut for Arsenal in a friendly match against Sydney FC, where he played on the right wing, demonstrating his dribbling skills and consistently setting up teammates like Joe Willock and Danny Welbeck. During this tour, he also featured in matches against Western Sydney Wanderers at Stadium Australia, Bayern Munich at the Shanghai Stadium, and Chelsea at Bird's Nest Stadium in Beijing. Nelson made his first competitive appearance for Arsenal in the 2017 FA Community Shield against Chelsea, coming on as a substitute for Welbeck. Arsenal went on to win the match 4-1 in a penalty shootout after the game ended in a draw.

During the 2017-18 season, Nelson's first-team opportunities were primarily limited to cup and European competitions, including five appearances in the UEFA Europa League, three in the EFL Cup, and one match in the FA Cup which saw Arsenal lose to Nottingham Forest. His Premier League debut came on January 20, 2018, in a 4-1 victory over Crystal Palace at the Emirates Stadium, where he entered the game as a substitute in the 72nd minute. Despite speculation that Nelson might receive more playing time following the departure of fellow winger Alexis Sánchez, he only made two more Premier League appearances that season. Arsenal finished the league campaign in sixth place, and Arsène Wenger announced his departure from the club.

While still contributing to youth football for the under-23 side, Nelson played a key role in Arsenal winning the Premier League 2 in the Professional Development League. He also helped his team reach the final of the 2017-18 Premier League International Cup. Nelson concluded the season with 10 goals across all youth competitions and was recognized with the PL2 Player of the Season award. He was also named Premier League 2 Player of the Month for August 2017.

2.2. Loan to TSG Hoffenheim (2018-2019)

On August 31, 2018, Reiss Nelson signed a new long-term contract with Arsenal before being sent on a season-long loan to German club TSG Hoffenheim. This move marked his first experience in a major European league outside England. He made an immediate impact, scoring a goal within 14 minutes of his debut for Hoffenheim against Fortuna Düsseldorf on September 18, although it was a consolation goal in a 2-1 defeat.

Nelson quickly found his scoring rhythm, netting six Bundesliga goals in his first seven appearances for Hoffenheim. This impressive run included a wide curling strike against Bayer Leverkusen in November. His strong performances led to him being nominated for the Bundesliga Young Player of the Year award and being named Bundesliga Rookie of the Month for October 2018. However, his loan spell was not without its challenges. Head coach Julian Nagelsmann notably dropped Nelson from the squad for a match against 1. FC Nürnberg, which Hoffenheim won 2-1, as an "educational measure" after Nelson was late to training. Following an injury in January, Nelson struggled to maintain his early momentum and make a significant impact in the latter stages of Hoffenheim's season. He concluded his loan spell with a total of seven goals in 29 appearances for the German side across all competitions.

2.3. Return to Arsenal under Emery and Arteta (2019-2021)

After his loan spell in Germany, Nelson returned to Arsenal and was integrated into the first team alongside fellow academy graduate Emile Smith Rowe, as then-manager Unai Emery aimed to prioritize youth talent in his second season. Nelson was also assigned the number 24 shirt. He made successive starts in Arsenal's opening two Premier League games against Newcastle United and Burnley. In the match against Burnley, he appeared to have scored a goal following a slick passing move and a confident finish, but it was disallowed due to an offside in the buildup.

Nelson scored his first senior goal for Arsenal on September 24, 2019, in a EFL Cup third-round fixture against Nottingham Forest at the Emirates Stadium, contributing to a dominant 5-0 victory. His goal was the fourth of the match, scored after he received a precise drilled pass from Calum Chambers. In October, Nelson sustained a knee injury while on youth international duty, which kept him out of first-team action until December.

In November, Unai Emery departed Arsenal and was initially replaced by interim coach Freddie Ljungberg, who was later succeeded by former club captain Mikel Arteta. Nelson scored again in January 2020, securing Arsenal's 1-0 victory over Leeds United in the FA Cup third round. However, he was injured again later that month, only returning to action against Portsmouth in March. Following a temporary suspension of football due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the Premier League resumed in June. Nelson subsequently scored his first Premier League goal for Arsenal against Liverpool at the Emirates Stadium in July. Although he was an unused substitute, Nelson was part of the squad that won Arsenal's 14th FA Cup, defeating Chelsea in the final on August 1.

2.4. Loan to Feyenoord (2021-2022)

In the 2020 FA Community Shield match against Liverpool, Nelson came on as a substitute and successfully converted Arsenal's first penalty in the shootout, which Arsenal won after a 1-1 draw. On November 26, he scored his first goal in a European competition against Norwegian side Molde in the UEFA Europa League. At this point in his Arsenal career, all four of Nelson's goals had been scored in different competitions: the Premier League, FA Cup, EFL Cup, and UEFA Europa League. However, the 2020-21 campaign saw him make only nine appearances, with injuries significantly limiting his playing time to just 69 minutes of Premier League football.

To gain more consistent first-team experience, Nelson joined Eredivisie side Feyenoord on loan in August 2021, where he wore the number 14 shirt. Feyenoord's sporting director, Frank Arnesen, highlighted the club's long-term interest in Nelson, describing him as "a rapid boy, good with his feet, who makes things very difficult for defenders in one-on-ones." Unfortunately, Nelson sustained an injury in training shortly after joining, which delayed his debut. His first appearance for Feyenoord came against RKC Waalwijk in the Eredivisie, where he played as a substitute for 30 minutes in a 2-2 draw. During his time at Feyenoord, Nelson scored four goals and played a crucial role in the team reaching the inaugural 2022 UEFA Europa Conference League final, where they ultimately lost 1-0 to José Mourinho's Roma in Tirana, Albania. Upon his return to Arsenal, Nelson himself expressed that his loan spell with Feyenoord had been transformative, revealing that it had helped him mature both as a player and as a person. Manager Mikel Arteta also acknowledged a positive change in Nelson's character during pre-season training, attributing it to his experience in the Netherlands.

2.5. Return to Arsenal (2022-2024)

Upon returning to Arsenal for the 2022-23 season, Reiss Nelson made his first appearance on October 6, 2022, against Bodø/Glimt in the UEFA Europa League. A week later, his appearance in the reverse fixture in Norway marked his 50th match for the Arsenal first team. Towards the end of October, Nelson delivered a standout performance in Arsenal's 5-0 Premier League win over Nottingham Forest, coming on as a substitute for Bukayo Saka to score two goals (a brace) and assist Thomas Partey's goal.

On March 4, 2023, in a crucial Premier League match against AFC Bournemouth at the Emirates Stadium, Nelson entered the game as a substitute for Emile Smith Rowe when Bournemouth was leading Arsenal 2-1. Almost immediately after his introduction, he provided an assist from the left wing for Ben White to equalize the score at 2-2. In a dramatic turn of events, Nelson scored a spectacular winning goal from approximately 25 yards out in the seventh minute of added time, following a half-cleared corner. This goal sparked jubilant celebrations among Arsenal players and staff, and it significantly bolstered Arsenal's pursuit of their first league title in 19 years. Although Arsenal ultimately finished second in the league to Manchester City, Nelson's impactful performance against Bournemouth earned him the prestigious Premier League Game Changer of the Season award. Furthermore, his sensational winning goal against Bournemouth was voted by club supporters as Arsenal's Goal of the Season for the 2022-23 campaign. Football writer Charles Watts described the goal as "one of those moments in football that genuinely took the breath away - when despair turned into elation in a blink of an eye."

Ahead of the 2023-24 season, Nelson signed a new four-year contract with Arsenal, reinforcing his long-term commitment to the club. Manager Mikel Arteta expressed his belief in Nelson's capabilities and importance to the squad, stating, "Reiss knows how important he is to our squad with the quality he has." He made his first appearance of the new season on September 3, 2023, against Manchester United in the Premier League at the Emirates Stadium. Nelson then scored his first goal of the season on September 27, 2023, against Brentford in the EFL Cup, which proved to be the only goal of the match. Arsenal finished second in the league again, behind Manchester City. Despite having recently signed a long-term contract, speculation arose in the 2024 Summer transfer window about Nelson's potential departure, as he made only one Premier League start for the club throughout the entire 2023-24 season. In June 2024, it was reported that he was actively assessing his transfer options for a possible move away from the club.

2.6. Loan to Fulham (2024-present)

On August 31, 2024, the deadline day of the summer transfer window, Reiss Nelson joined Fulham on a season-long loan. This move occurred as winger Raheem Sterling was on the verge of joining Arsenal. Nelson made his first appearance for Fulham on September 14, 2024, against West Ham United. Just three days later, he scored his first goal for his new club in the third round of the EFL Cup against Preston North End, in a match that Fulham ultimately lost 16-15 in a penalty shootout after a 1-1 draw. On September 21, Nelson scored his first Premier League goal for Fulham in a 3-1 victory over Newcastle United.