Kelechi Nwakali: What next for Super Eagles midfielder after Barnsley exit?

​Super Eagles midfielder Kelechi Nwakali has parted ways with English League One club Barnsley, Afrik-Foot reports.

​The former Arsenal man joined the English side in August 2024 after a difficult year with Portuguese side Chaves. However, since moving there, he has been unable to stamp his authority as a consistent first-team player.

​Nwakali played 26 games and scored one goal in his first year. However, he appeared to fall out with the club last year. While it was initially believed they would sell him, they ultimately kept him on the roster. Even so, he featured in only four games for the club, all of which were off the bench.

​At the end of last season, when Barnsley unveiled their retained list, Nwakali’s name was included — a sign that they still viewed him as an asset.

However, he did not feature in any pre-season games during the summer and was absent from their first three fixtures of the campaign.

​These absences indicated that he was no longer part of the manager’s plans. Barnsley confirmed yesterday that Nwakali had terminated his contract by mutual consent.

We can confirm that Kelechi Nwakali has departed Oakwell by mutual consent, subject to EFL approval.

The Club wishes Kelechi all the best for the future. pic.twitter.com/HVOsVCKy0P

— Barnsley FC (@BarnsleyFC) August 27, 2026

His deal was originally set to expire at the end of this season, but he is now a free agent.

​What Next for Kelechi Nwakali?

​This latest move comes as little surprise, given the trajectory of his career. He was one of the standout players from Nigeria’s U-17 World Cup triumph in 2015, but he has struggled to fulfill that early potential.

​Although he joined Arsenal’s academy early on, he has endured a nomadic career. During his time with the Gunners, he had loan spells at MVV Maastricht, VVV-Venlo, and Porto B.

​He later signed for Spanish sides Huesca, Alcorcón, and Ponferradina before moving to Chaves in 2023, where he spent a single season prior to joining Barnsley. Nwakali left several of these clubs on bitter terms.

At Huesca, he was ousted after falling out with management over a delayed return from international duty, though he later claimed the dispute arose because he refused to be sold.

​At Chaves, he was spotted using his mobile phone on the substitutes’ bench during a live match. His career has often moved from one controversy to another.

​Following his Barnsley exit, reports suggest he could join Omonia 29th May in the Cypriot second tier. If realized, the transfer would represent a significant step down into relative obscurity.

​For now, though, nothing is official. As a free agent, he remains eligible to sign with a new club outside the standard transfer window.

​Nwakali holds four senior caps for the Super Eagles, the most recent coming at the 2021 Africa Cup of Nations (held in 2022).