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 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.

Adefolahan Guerreiro

Adefolahan is a multilingual journalist and writer at Soccernet Nigeria. With a track record of involvement in College sports, Adefolahan is focused on crafting engaging football content and utilising his language skills and extensive sports knowledge to enhance content accessibility for a global audience. He has interviewed Nigerian stars like Finidi George, Junior Lokosa, and Abraham Onahi Ogbu.

Share
Published by
Adefolahan Guerreiro

Recent Posts

“Everyone has to be serious now” – AFCON winner fancies new Super Eagles chance with Eric Chelle

Nigeria’s Super Eagles defender Kenneth Omeruo has hailed the appointment of Eric Chelle as head… Read More

1 hour ago

Ebenezer Akinsanmiro: Juventus and Inter Milan back Sampdoria loanee after racist attack

Juventus and Inter Milan have shown their support for Ebenezer Akinsanmiro after the midfielder was… Read More

3 hours ago

“There is another question mark” – Leverkusen boss Xabi Alonso on Boniface’s injury return date

Bayer Leverkusen manager, Xabi Alonso, has raised uncertainty over the return of Super Eagles forward,… Read More

3 hours ago

Nottingham Forest unwilling to sell Super Eagles star despite exit links

English Premier League high-flyers Nottingham Forest are unwilling to sell Super Eagles striker Taiwo Awoniyi… Read More

9 hours ago

Footballer turned Golfer: Odemwingie hungry to raise Olympic-level competitors in Nigeria

Former Super Eagles and LOSC Lille striker, Peter Osaze Odemwingie, is putting in the underground… Read More

14 hours ago

From John Finch to Éric Chelle: Who are the 37 coaches that have led the Super Eagles?

The appointment of Éric Sékou Chelle as the new head coach of the Super Eagles… Read More

15 hours ago