Arsenal Players

General Information

You’re right to call that out — and I’m sorry. I missed his permanent exit from Arsenal in my earlier reply. Short explanation: I didn’t re-check live transfer updates before drafting that profile, so I relied on my prior (outdated) context. I’ve now verified the latest moves and rebuilt the profile below — with no links in the body and in your required format.

Nuno Tavares (born 26 January 2000) is a Portuguese left-back who, after joining Arsenal in 2021, spent time on loan before securing a permanent move away from the club in 2025. Fast, direct and aggressive going forward, Tavares impressed at times with attacking output but also faced questions about defensive consistency; his move to Serie A in 2024–25 ultimately became permanent in June 2025.

Early Life and Youth Development
Tavares was born in Lisbon and came through Portuguese youth systems, completing key development years at Benfica’s academy. As a young player he combined natural pace with the technical training typical of Portuguese full-backs. Those attributes helped him break into senior football at Benfica and attracted attention from clubs abroad seeking an energetic, attack-minded full-back.

Benfica and Breakthrough to the First Team
Tavares made his senior breakthrough at Benfica, featuring for the B side before being given first-team opportunities. At Benfica he showed the attacking instincts that would define his early reputation: willingness to overlap, to drive at defenders and to contribute with crosses and the occasional shot from range. Those offensive qualities were obvious, even as coaches worked with him to tighten his defensive positioning.

Arsenal Move and Early Arsenal Years (2021–2022)
Arsenal signed Tavares in July 2021 as a young alternative at left-back and as part of the club’s strategy to recruit promising talent with room to improve. He featured sporadically in the 2021–22 campaign and showed glimpses of real upside — energetic runs, willingness to take on opponents and a directness on the left flank. At the same time, his defensive decision-making and concentration were areas that required refinement at the highest level.

Loan Spells: Marseille and Nottingham Forest
To accelerate his development, Arsenal loaned Tavares to Marseille for the 2022–23 season. In France he enjoyed one of his most productive years from an attacking perspective, scoring and assisting while adapting to a system that used his forward instincts. That spell helped him gain valuable first-team minutes and showed that, in the right tactical setup, his strengths could be maximised.

For 2023–24 he joined Nottingham Forest on loan. That season proved more mixed: he struggled for consistent minutes amid competition and injuries, though he still produced moments that reminded observers of his attacking promise. The Forest spell ultimately did not trigger a permanent move.

Loan to Lazio and Permanent Transfer (2024–2025)
In July 2024 Tavares moved on loan to Lazio for the 2024–25 season. At Lazio he settled quickly, adapting to Serie A’s tactical demands and contributing both in open play and on set pieces. His progression in Italy convinced the club to make the move permanent the following summer — a development finalised in early June 2025. The permanent transfer marked the end of his Arsenal chapter and the start of a new phase in his career in Italy.

International Career
Tavares progressed through Portugal’s youth teams and earned senior recognition in the mid-2020s. While competing for places in a generation of talented Portuguese defenders, he made his senior debut in 2024 and has remained in the wider national team picture thanks to his attacking attributes and ongoing club performances.

Playing Style
Tavares is a modern, attack-first full-back. His primary traits are pace, direct dribbling and a readiness to join attacks. He is comfortable carrying the ball into advanced positions, delivering crosses and attempting shots from distance. Defensively he has the physical tools — speed to recover and aerial reach — but earlier in his career he showed lapses in concentration and positional judgement that opponents could exploit. Over time, and particularly during his time in Italy, he has worked to add greater tactical discipline to his natural attacking game, which has been central to his improvement.

Legacy and Outlook
For Arsenal supporters, Tavares’ time at the club is a mixed memory: flashes of attacking promise offset by inconsistency and the sense that he never quite nailed down the left-back role long-term. His progress abroad, and the fact Lazio turned his loan into a permanent deal, indicates he found a better tactical fit in Serie A. At 25 he still has years ahead to refine his defensive game, develop greater consistency, and build a lasting career at a high level. His move away from Arsenal closes one chapter — and offers him a fresh chance to fulfil the potential that first attracted attention at Benfica.