The Nigerian U17 WorldCup winner Kelechi Nwakali has not even moved to Arsenal yet, but it appears that he has asked for the Number 25 shirt to be allocated to himfor next season, and Arsene Wenger has agreed. This number was last used by Carl Jenkinson before he went to West Ham on loan (what does that mean for Carl?)
Nwakali has finally signed a five-year contract with the Gunners on turning 18 recently, and his old boss at the All-Star’s, Amajiriaku, told the Breaking Times in Nigeria: “Arsenal have informed us that Kelechi has been handed the number 25 jersey. He was trying to get that number because of Kanu Nwankwo, so he’s happy they gave it to him, ”
Nwakali cannot come to London as he is still with the Nigeria U20 squad, and Amajiriaku says it is now down to Arsenal to discuss with them when he can finally arrive at the Emirates. “Kelechi is no longer our property, we can’t decide when he’ll travel to London. No one knows the mind of Arsene Wenger, they need him urgently but we want him to play for Nigeria.
“The coach and the Nigeria Football Federation will have to decide,” he added.
Nwakali is obviously very talented judging by his Player-of-the-Tournament award at the U20 World Cup, so it will be interesting to see how he gets on in training with the big boys this summer….
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