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New Arsenal signing handed squad number after penning 5-year deal

By on June 18, 2016

New Arsenal signing Kelechi Nwakali has been handed the iconic No.25 squad number after joining the club on a five-year contract, reports the Daily Star.

After months of speculation, Nwakali finally completed his move to the Emirates last week and while Arsenal are yet to make any official announcement, the youngster confirmed the news on his Facebook page.

The Daily Star claim the 18-year-old has signed a five-year contract with the club after we’d reportedly agreed a £3m deal with the Diamond Football Academy back in Nigeria.

It looks like the highly-rated midfielder has now been handed the No.25 shirt – which became famous thanks to Nigerian legend Kanu who wore the number during his spell at Arsenal that saw him win two Premier League’s and two FA Cup’s.

The head of the Nigerian academy, Emeka Amajiriaku, told allnigeriasoccer.com.

‘Arsenal have informed us that Kelechi has been handed the No.25 jersey. He was trying to get that number because of Kanu, so he’s happy they gave it to him,’

The No.25 has recently been owned by Carl Jenkinson so it looks as though the defender is set to either change number or possibly even leave the club following his loan spell at West Ham last season. Either way, it’s great to see another Nigerian wearing the No.25 jersey, let’s hope he does it proud.

Nwakali caught the attention of Arsenal scouts after impressing at the under-17 World Cup last year where he helped the Super Eagles lift the trophy in Chile and was later named as the Player of the Tournament.

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He’s a central midfielder who has been compared to Arsenal legend Patrick Vieira due to his style of play but he has a long way to go before he emulates the great man!

He’ll no doubt go in to our under-21 squad and it will be a while before he’s ready for first team football but he is highly-regarded so let’s hope he has a bright future in North London.