Confirmed: Arsenal loan out two first team players of African descent 

Through their official website, Arsenal have announced that two first team players of African descent have been loaned out for the 2024-2025 season. 

Cape Verde-eligible defender Nuno Tavares has joined Lazio on loan with an obligation to buy inserted into the contract.

A product of the Benfica academy, he joined Arsenal in July 2021, and has recorded 28 appearances since making his debut. 

In search of playing time, he was farmed out on loan to Marseille and Nottingham Forest in back-to-back seasons, playing in 51 games combined for both teams and was on target six times.

In 2015, Tavares joined Benfica’s academy, progressing to the first team and debuting at 19 in a 5-0 Portuguese Super Cup win over Sporting in August 2019.

The fullback links up with Manchester City academy graduate Fisayo Dele-Bashiru at Lazio,

Cap-tied Belgium international of Congolese descent, Sambi Lokonga has joined Spanish La Liga side Sevilla on an initial loan with an option to buy

Since joining Arsenal from Anderlecht in 2021, Lokonga has played in 39 games comprising 25 in the Premier League, 6 in the Europa League, 5 in the League Cup and 3 in the FA Cup.

Due to a lack of adequate first team opportunities, he has spent time on loan at Crystal Palace and Luton Town. 

Having represented Belgium at U16, U17, U19 and U21 levels, he received his first senior team call-up in June 2021, shortly before moving to Arsenal, and made his debut three months later in a World Cup qualifier against Estonia.

Sambi Lokonga links up with Nigeria international winger Chidera Ejuke at Sevilla.

Igho Kingsley