Nwakali: Barnsley issue fresh update on Super Eagles midfielder’s future

Kelechi Nwakali’s future at English League One side Barnsley now appears to have been resolved ahead of the summer transfer window, Afrik-Foot reports.

The former Arsenal midfielder joined Barnsley from Portuguese club Chaves in the summer of 2024 after previous spells in the Netherlands, Spain and Portugal, with hopes of rediscovering the form that once made him one of Nigeria’s brightest young talents.

Nwakali made a promising start to life at the English club and enjoyed a strong debut campaign. However, things quickly went downhill after he was frozen out of the squad by Conor Hourihane, over disciplinary issues which has affected his career in the past. 

For a long period, it appeared his time at Barnsley was already coming to an end, with expectations growing that he would leave the club at the end of the season.

However, the Nigerian midfielder made a surprise return to action in April when he came off the bench in a 1-0 defeat to Stevenage to make his first appearance of the season, before making three more appearances to close out the campaign.

Kelechi Nwakali: Why Barnsley made surprise call on Super Eagles midfielder’s future

The future of Kelechi Nwakali had remained uncertain heading into the end of the season, especially after spending most of the campaign out of the squad. It then came as a surprise when Barnsley made the decision to continue with the Nigerian midfielder for another season.

The Tykes endured a disappointing campaign, finishing 15th in the standings and falling well short of the promotion places, which led to several changes behind the scenes. Head coach Hourihane eventually left his role by mutual consent at the end of the season, with Daniel Stendel returning as Barnsley’s new head coach.

According to Footy-Africa, Allwell Nwakali, the agent of the Nigerian midfielder, revealed that Stendel played a major role in Barnsley’s decision to keep Nwakali, with the new manager identifying the Super Eagles midfielder as an important part of his plans moving forward.

Following Hourihane’s departure, there had already suggestions that Nwakali could be reintegrated into the squad, and that has now happened with the midfielder expected to remain at Barnsley for at least another season.

Nwakali’s current contract with the club runs until the end of the 2026-27 season, and the upcoming season could prove very important for his future. A strong season may not only earn him a contract extension but could also attract interest from bigger clubs if he rediscovers his best form.

The midfielder will also hope to force his way back into the Super Eagles setup. His last appearance for Nigeria came during the group stage of the 2021 Africa Cup of Nations, but with head coach Eric Chelle open to handing invitations to in-form players, a successful season at Barnsley could revive his international career.