Arsenal U-23 goalkeeper set to switch allegiance from England to Nigeria

Okonkwo is a product of the famous Arsenal Hale End Academy and has played for every of the youth ranks, ranging from the U-18 to the U-23 team.

Arsenal U-23 goalkeeper and former England U-18 international, Arthur Okonkwo, has opted to play for the Super Eagles of Nigeria, rather than don the Three Lions shirt, Soccernet.ng reports.

Okonkwo, born in 2001, has risen through the ranks at Arsenal. He played for the U-18 team at just 15 and has been playing for the U-23 team since he turned 17.

Born in London, the 22-year-old featured for the England U-18 team four times but has not been able to add to his number of appearances for the Three Lions since then.

Having spent the past two years on loan at Crewe Alexandra and Stum Graz, Okonkwo has made fifteen league appearances for Wrexham this season, keeping seven clean sheets, and helping the club to third place on the League table, two points behind the League leaders, Stockport County.

According to the Daily Cannon, Super Eagles coach, Jose Peseiro, contacted the Arsenal loanee over the possibility of a nationality switch so as to play for Nigeria, and the report indicated that Okonkwo was open to the move, with former NFF President, Amaju Pinnick also endorsing the 1.98m tall goalkeeper.

In over a season of professional football, spanning across sixty-one games, Arthur Okonkwo has kept twenty-four clean sheets.