Kelechi Nwakali’s time at Barnsley appears to be nearing an end, as manager Conor Hourihane has confirmed that the Nigerian midfielder will “probably not” feature for the club again this season.
Speaking to the Barnsley Chronicle a few weeks ago, Hourihane addressed questions about the player’s situation, making it clear that Nwakali is not in his plans for the current campaign.
The 27-year-old joined the League One side on a three-year contract two summers ago and impressed with 26 appearances in his debut season. But this term, he has been completely sidelined and sent to the under-21 squad following disciplinary issues.
“Do I see him breaking back in? Probably not if I am being totally honest,” Hourihane said.
“It’s the same message from the summer. We’re looking for the best scenario for club and player. I probably don’t see him fitting into the way we want to play – being really energetic, aggressive and high-tempo.”
Once considered one of Nigeria’s most promising young players, Nwakali’s career has not lived up to early expectations. He joined Arsenal in 2016 after a brilliant FIFA U-17 World Cup campaign, where he won the Golden Ball as the tournament’s best player.
The deal was facilitated by Arsenal legend Nwankwo Kanu, but Nwakali never made a senior appearance for the Premier League club due to recurring work permit problems. He was instead sent out on several loan spells before eventually signing for SD Huesca in Spain.
Reports indicate that Barnsley attempted to offload him during the last transfer window, but a move did not materialize. Since then, he has been limited to youth team football.
For a player once tipped for greatness, Nwakali’s career has struggled to find consistency. Barnsley is the eighth club he has represented since joining Arsenal, including five temporary spells elsewhere.
Though Hourihane has left room for possible talks before the January window, his comments suggest that Nwakali’s return to the first team is highly doubtful. The midfielder still has two years left on his contract with the club.
