Salah-Eddine Oulad M’hand has completed a loan move with an option to buy, joining Hull City in the Championship.

LONDON, ENGLAND: Salah Oulad M'Hand of Arsenal (R) is congratulated by teammates Joel Lopez (L) and Omar Rekik (C) after scoring their team's second goal during the Premier League 2 match between Arsenal U23 and Brighton & Hove Albion U23 at Emirates Stadium on October 01, 2021. (Photo by Alex Burstow/Getty Images)
LONDON, ENGLAND: Salah Oulad M’Hand of Arsenal (R) is congratulated by teammates Joel Lopez (L) and Omar Rekik (C) after scoring their team’s second goal during the Premier League 2 match between Arsenal U23 and Brighton & Hove Albion U23 at Emirates Stadium on October 01, 2021. (Photo by Alex Burstow/Getty Images)

Arsenal youth midfielder Salah-Eddine Oulad M’hand only joined the Gunners in 2020, completing a free transfer from Feyenoord, but he already looks to be on the move again.

Last week, Hull Live reported that Hull City have agreed a deal to sign Oulad M’hand, with the player keen after terms were agreed.

Hull confirmed that the move is happening on Tuesday afternoon:

https://twitter.com/HullCity/status/1562090030935392256

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Not long after, Arsenal also confirmed the loan:

https://twitter.com/ArsenalAcademy/status/1562092417326759937

The deal will be an initial loan, but with an option to make it permanent next summer.

Across all competitions for the Arsenal youth teams last season, Oulad M’hand scored six goals and provided five assists. His younger brother Ismail is also on the books with the academy, having joined from Feyenoord at the same time.

The elder Salah-Eddine spent most of his first season on the sidelines with injury, playing just three times in his entire debut campaign.

The midfielder recovered to feature more regularly last year, making more than 20 youth appearances and featuring in the first-team squad on a number of occasions – without making a competitive debut.

James Olayinka and Salah-Eddine Oulad M'hand challenge a Southampton player for the ball (Photo via SouthamptonFC.com)
James Olayinka and Salah-Eddine Oulad M’hand challenge a Southampton player for the ball (Photo via SouthamptonFC.com)

A very technical midfielder with a goal or two in his locker, Oulad M’hand will have his best chance of success if he’s given license to get forward and support Hull City’s attacks.

Though hard-working, the defensive side of the 18-year-old’s game is less of a specialty. The benefits of a move to the Championship are that he should be able to develop that more physical side of his game.

As for Arsenal, the Gunners have a lot of youth midfielders, many of whom are highly rated.

With Charlie Patino, Miguel Azeez, Catalin Cirjan, Matt Smith, James Olayinka, Ben Cottrell, Mauro Bandeira, Tim Akinola, Jack Henry-Francis, Charles Sagoe Jr, and Amario Cozier-Duberry in the u21 age group at the moment, it’s inevitable some will leave.

Patino has obviously gone on loan, and you’d expect at least a few more to follow. Oulad M’hand looks to be the next.

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