Two years after arriving at Oakwell, Kelechi Nwakali’s Barnsley chapter has come to a close by mutual agreement.
Want our football coverage to show up first?
Add FootballInNigeria as a preferred source and our stories get a "Preferred" badge in your Google Top Stories, AI Overviews, and AI Mode results.
English League One club Barnsley have confirmed the departure of Nigerian midfielder Kelechi Nwakali by mutual consent.
The club stated that the 28-year-old’s exit remains subject to approval from the English Football League. In a statement on their official website, Barnsley said Nwakali had departed Oakwell by mutual consent and wished him all the best for the future.
A Two-Year Spell In Yorkshire
Nwakali joined Barnsley in the summer of 2024 following his departure from Portuguese outfit Chaves. The former Arsenal midfielder made 30 appearances for the Reds across all competitions during his time at Oakwell, including 12 league starts during the 2024/25 campaign. He was named Barnsley’s Player of the Month for January during his time at the club.
📌 Did You Know?
- Nwakali joined Arsenal’s academy in 2015 after starring for Nigeria at the FIFA U-17 World Cup, where he was named the tournament’s best player.
- He never made a competitive first-team appearance for Arsenal, instead being sent out on a series of loan spells before permanently leaving the club.
- Nwakali was part of the Nigeria squad that won the 2015 FIFA U-17 World Cup in Chile.
- His move to Chaves in Portugal came after a spell in Belgium, part of a career that has taken him across several European leagues.
- Nwakali’s older brother, Chidiebere Nwakali, is also a professional footballer who has represented Nigeria’s youth national teams.
