Marcelo Flores has extended his contract with Arsenal to 2025, according to a report, likely activating his two-year option to extend.

Journalist Fernando Cevallos reports (via Sport Witness) that Marcelo Flores has extended his deal for two more years, meaning his contract is now set to expire in 2025.

When Flores signed his first professional deal in 2020, his father told the media it was a five-year deal.

But FIFA regulations prevent 17-year-olds from signing for more than three years with their first professional contract.

It seems to be that the contract was a three-year deal with the option to extend it by a further two years. So it was a five-year deal overall, but with only three years guaranteed.

It appears Arsenal and Flores have now taken up that option to extend.

Cevallos goes on to report that Flores’ intention is to stay in Spain for another year after his current loan spell ends, with a couple of clubs interested in him.

That doesn’t necessarily mean Flores will stay at Real Oviedo, and right now, another year with Oviedo seems unlikely.

The winger is still waiting for his first minute of football in 2023, having sat on the bench for nine consecutive games. He made 14 appearances (seven starts) before the turn of the year.

There’s still something to be gained from this year’s loan spell. The 19-year-old remains part of the matchday squad for every game, and he’s learning how to deal with the setback of dropping out of the starting lineup.

But another year on the bench wouldn’t be preferable to a regular starting role in 2023/24, so a summer change of scenery seems likely.