Super Eagles midfielder Kelechi Nwakali finally made his English Football League debut on Saturday, October 26, as Barnsley secured a notable 2-0 victory against Shrewsbury Town in a League One encounter at Montgomery Waters Meadow.
This match marked a significant milestone for Nwakali, who, five years after leaving Premier League powerhouse Arsenal, stepped onto the field in the third tier of English football.
The 2015 FIFA U17 World Cup winner was a standout player in the tournament, earning the Golden Ball for his exceptional performances, which attracted the attention of top clubs.
Arsenal successfully signed him, beating numerous competitors for his signature.
Despite the hype surrounding his transfer, Nwakali faced challenges that limited his time at the Emirates Stadium. A work permit issue prevented him from making a single appearance for Arsenal, leading to loan spells at various clubs, including MVV Maastricht and VVV Venlo in the Netherlands, as well as a stint with Porto in Portugal.
His association with Arsenal concluded in 2019, and he embarked on a quest to revitalize his career.
After a series of endeavours, Nwakali returned to England during the summer transfer window, joining ambitious League One side Barnsley on a three-year contract.
However, fitness concerns and the absence of pre-season training made it difficult for him to secure a place in the starting lineup.
Ahead of the match against Shrewsbury, Barnsley manager Darrell Clarke announced in a pre-match press conference that Nwakali would rejoin the gameday squad after missing out on the home fixture against Charlton Athletic.
With the match under control thanks to goals from Jon Russell and Max Watters, Nwakali finally had the opportunity to showcase his skills, coming off the bench to replace Luca Connell in the first minute of stoppage time, marking the long-awaited debut in his League One career.
