What Eric Chelle said about Tochukwu Nnadi’s move to Marseille

Super Eagles head coach Eric Chelle has welcomed Tochukwu Nnadi’s move to French heavyweights Marseille, Afrik-Foot reports.

The AFCON bronze medal-winning coach has described Nnadi’s transfer as a natural step in the midfielder’s fast-rising career.

The Nigeria international completed a permanent switch to the Ligue 1 giants from Belgian side Zulte Waregem earlier this week, signing a long-term contract that runs until the summer of 2030. Marseille are believed to have paid around €6m to secure the 22-year-old’s services.

Super Eagle Tochukwu Nnadi joins Marseille 🇳🇬 pic.twitter.com/mKSJfZjqZl

— Ligue 1 English (@Ligue1_ENG) February 2, 2026

Eric Chelle admitted he was not surprised to see Nnadi make the jump to one of Europe’s most historic clubs, pointing to the player’s steady development since breaking onto the scene with Nigeria’s Flying Eagles at the 2023 FIFA U-20 World Cup.

Since moving to Europe, Nnadi has continued to grow in stature, making 58 appearances for Zulte Waregem, where he scored once and provided two assists while establishing himself as a reliable presence in midfield.

His rise has also been recognised at international level, with Eric Chelle naming him in Nigeria’s squad for the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations and handing him his senior debut during the tournament. The youngster is now viewed as a potential long-term successor to experienced Super Eagles midfielder Wilfred Ndidi.

Eric Chelle confident Nnadi will thrive in France

The Super Eagles boss believes Nnadi’s style of play makes him ideally suited for the physical and tactical demands of French football.

“I thought he should have been playing in a bigger league a long time ago,” Eric Chelle told L’Equipe.

“He’s fast, strong, aggressive in winning the ball back, and can make a lot of interceptions.”

Born in Ihiagwa, in Imo State’s Owerri West Local Government Area, Nnadi began his football journey at Campos FC in Owerri before moving abroad in 2019 to train with Madenat Alamal Football Academy in Dubai.

His European breakthrough came in 2021 when he joined Bulgarian side Botev Plovdiv, making his league debut the following year and featuring regularly across competitions. After a year and a half in Bulgaria, he moved to Zulte Waregem in January 2024, where his consistent performances quickly caught the attention of bigger clubs.

Now, with a move to Marseille secured, Nnadi faces the biggest challenge of his career so far. It is a challenge that Chelle believes will help shape him into a key figure for both club and country in the years ahead.