Arsenal are poised for a welcome January financial injection, with defender Nuno Tavares on the verge of a permanent move to Turkish Süper Lig side Besiktas.
Financial Windfall from Savvy Clause
The Gunners are set to receive a sum between £2.5 million and £3.4 million thanks to a shrewd sell-on clause negotiated when Tavares left the Emirates. The Portuguese left-back only departed Arsenal permanently in June 2025, joining Serie A's Lazio for a fee of £6 million.
At that time, Arsenal secured a clause entitling them to between 30% and 40% of any profit Lazio make on the player. With Besiktas agreeing an initial loan deal that includes an obligation to buy for £8.5 million next summer, Arsenal's bonus payment is now activated.
Tavares' Turbulent Journey Since Arsenal
Nuno Tavares, now 25, was Mikel Arteta's 11th signing for the club, arriving from Benfica for £8 million in July 2021. His sole season in North London was difficult, notably featuring a harsh substitution by Arteta just 34 minutes into an FA Cup defeat to Nottingham Forest.
Subsequent loan spells at Marseille and Nottingham Forest followed before his £6 million switch to Lazio. After a promising 2024-25 season on loan there, where he provided nine assists in 30 games, his fortunes changed with the return of manager Maurizio Sarri.
Sarri publicly labelled Tavares as "anarchic", and the defender quickly fell out of favour, prompting Lazio to seek a swift sale. The Italian club have already lined up Villarreal's Alfonso Pedraza as his replacement.
What This Means for Arsenal
This unexpected revenue provides a useful boost to Arsenal's January transfer window finances, offering greater flexibility as Mikel Arteta assesses his squad. The deal highlights the increasing importance of well-structured sell-on clauses in modern football transfers, ensuring clubs continue to benefit from a player's development long after they depart.
For Tavares, a move to Besiktas, whose president Serdar Adali has confirmed the pursuit, offers a fresh start. He has previously spoken about the value of feeling trusted by a manager, a sentiment he did not always feel under Arteta at Arsenal.
This transaction concludes a chapter that began with promise but never truly ignited in North London, yet it proves financially fruitful for the Gunners due to prudent long-term planning.
