August 12, (THEWILL) – Barnsley FC has announced the signing of Nigerian midfielder, Kelechi Nwakali, from Portuguese club G.D. Chaves.
The 26-year-old joins the Reds on a three-year contract, bringing his experience from Portugal’s Primeira Liga to Oakwell.
Nwakali, who made 32 appearances for Chaves last season, began his professional career with Arsenal after winning the Golden Ball at the 2015 Under-17 World Cup. His journey included spells at several European clubs, including Huesca in La Liga and Alcorcón and Ponferradina in Spain, before moving to Chaves in 2023.
The midfielder has also represented Nigeria at various youth levels and earned his first full international cap at the 2022 African Cup of Nations. During the tournament, he played in victories against Egypt and Sudan and started in Nigeria’s 2-0 win over Guinea-Bissau.
Barnsley’s Sporting Director, Mladen Sormaz, praised Nwakali’s talents and experience, stating: “Kelechi is a really talented player who can offer Darrell something different. We believe his experience playing in some of Europe’s top leagues will benefit us over the coming years.”
Nwakali himself showed enthusiasm for the move, saying: “I am very happy to sign for Barnsley Football Club. I spoke to Mladen Sormaz and the Head Coach Darrell earlier in the summer and I knew that this was an exciting opportunity for me. I know I can bring a lot to the team.”
Jude Obafemi is a versatile senior Correspondent at THEWILL Newspapers, excelling in sourcing, researching, and delivering sports news stories for both print and digital publications.
