Liverpool’s promising Nigerian youngster Cornelius Akaunu is eyeing a move to Wolverhampton Wanderers’ youth setup, following recent trials with some of England’s top academies. The forward, who joined Liverpool’s academy in 2017, recently featured for Wolves U16s and was listed as a substitute in their U18 Premier League victory against Nottingham Forest.
Akaunu previously trialled with Arsenal, where he played in a 3-1 win for the U17s at their Hale End base. Before that, he impressed Tottenham Hotspur scouts, scoring in a 4-0 win against Fulham’s youth side.
If he secures a place at Wolves, he will join a growing Nigerian presence in the academy, including Saheed Olagunju, Wes Okoduwa, David Osifo, Tom Edozie, and Testimony Igbinoghene.
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As he reaches the end of his schoolboy phase, Akaunu will be eligible for a scholarship contract in 2025—an important next step in his budding football career.
Editorial
Cornelius Akaunu’s journey highlights the intricate web of youth football development in England and the quiet but steady rise of Nigerian talent within it. We see in him not just another academy player on trial, but a determined teenager navigating the high-stakes world of elite football, where opportunity and pressure exist in equal measure.
Trials at Arsenal, Spurs, and now Wolves show that Akaunu is no stranger to top-tier setups. This breadth of experience offers him valuable insights into varying football cultures, coaching styles, and expectations assets that could serve him well if he lands a scholarship deal.
As observers and stakeholders in the future of Nigerian football, we must celebrate these stepping stones. Every trial, every substitute listing, every goal in a youth match adds up. These early stages, though often overlooked, are crucial chapters in the making of professionals.
We hope Akaunu’s potential move to Wolves bears fruit. With its strong academy structure and increasing diversity, it might be the ideal environment for him to flourish. Let’s continue to champion our young stars, who are writing their stories in some of football’s most competitive landscapes.
Did You Know?
- Steven Gerrard was present when Akaunu and 20 others signed with Liverpool’s academy in 2017.
- Wolves’ academy has a Category One status, the highest tier in England’s Elite Player Performance Plan EPPP.
- Hale End is Arsenal’s famed youth development centre, where stars like Bukayo Saka and Emile Smith Rowe honed their skills.
- Nigerian youth internationals are increasingly being scouted by Premier League academies due to their technical and athletic profiles.
- Scholarship contracts in England typically begin at age 16 and are a key step toward earning a professional deal.
