Arsenal have signed Nigerian youngster Kelechi Nwakali after a work permit was granted for the midfielder to move to the Emirates Stadium, All Nigeria Soccer claim.
The gifted playmaker has been in the global spotlight after starring for his nation’s under-17’s team at the age-grade World Cup last year.
Nwakali has since been promoted to the Nigeria under-20’s side and captains the team, which is full of promising young players.
Nwakali is a former pupil of the ASJ Academy, with chief executive officer Emeka Amajiriaku letting the cat out of the bag over the teenage starlet’s impending switch to the North London club.
“Kelechi has signed with Arsenal, it is now a done deal. He signed the contract 3 pm today (Wednesday), ” Amajiriaku said.
“His mother and brother Allwell were there. Manchester City loanee Chidiebere Nwakali came all the way from Norway to London to witness his brother signing the contract. ”
Arsenal are clearly putting an emphasis on young players and have already added a number of prodigious talents to their ranks this summer.
The North London club have an international cast of superstars in the first-team squad, but a host of young players are being tipped to make an impression in Arsene Wenger’s team in the next 12 months.
