At Olympique de Marseille, the windows dedicated to the transfer window are often very active. The winter market was no exception, since the Marseille club formalized two new recruits this Friday: Quinten Timber, landed from Feyenoord Rotterdam for a transfer estimated at around 4.5 million euros and Ethan Nwaneri, on loan from Arsenal until the end of the season.
These two players with different profiles were targeted to fill the Marseille midfield. A relay defensive midfielder, capable of carrying the ball from one surface to another, Timber will strengthen a sector often singled out by Roberto De Zerbi at the start of the season. « I’m a box-to-box player. I like to attack as well as defend. I will play where the coach needs. I can play 6, 8 or number 10,” the person detailed during his presentation press conference on Friday.
Twin brother of Jurriën, the excellent right defender of Arsenal, the Dutch international (8 caps) was at an impasse this season. The reason? His poor relationship with his coach Robin Van Persie, who publicly placed him on the transfer list this winter.
In clash with Robin Van Persie
Citing a lack of work ethic in training, the former Oranje legend reportedly recently had a violent altercation with his now ex-player. Timber did not fail to criticize the management of the 42-year-old technician to ESPN on January 18. “I think it’s a shame that things are happening this way,” he said. “It has already happened several times that the coach does not protect the player. In this specific case, it’s me again. There is a limit. And it starts again. It seems like a charade: now people pretend that I don’t do anything. Things need to be clear. »
A player with an assertive personality – he inherited the captain’s armband under the orders of Brian Priske, his coach from June 2024 to February 2025 – his temperament should fit perfectly with the heat of the Vélodrome. Experienced on the European scene, the neo-Marseillais already has 26 matches in the Champions League and the Europa League. He is even applying for a place in the Netherlands group for the next World Cup.
Nwaneri, the most precocious player in the Premier League
Much younger, Ethan Nwaneri arrives on Canebière with an even more flattering reputation than Timber, despite his 18 years. A pure product of the Arsenal team, he played his first professional minutes on September 18, 2022, entering added time against Brentford (3-0). Launched into the deep end by Mikel Arteta at 15 years and 181 days, he then became the youngest player in history to play in the Premier League.
An attacking midfielder capable of occupying all positions in the attack, the London native has a profile similar to that of Mason Greenwood, whom he will be responsible for overtaking in Marseille. Elimination capacity, vision of the game, quality of passing and shooting… Nwaneri is considered one of the greatest prospects across the Channel.
“I had the chance to coach Phil Foden, Jadon Sancho and Cole Palmer: for me, Ethan is part of this category of players,” Dan Micciche, former England U16 coach, told Sky Sports in 2024.
Barred by strong competition from Martin Odegaard, Eberechi Eze, Bukayo Saka and Noni Madueke among the Gunners, the young talent is looking for playing time, having only played twelve ends of matches this season. One thing is certain: the English crack should not last forever in the south of France, as the expectations placed on him at Arsenal are high. Ligue 1 and OM will have the opportunity to take advantage of it over the next six months.
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