Super Eagles star Nnadi breaks silence on Marseille exit rumours with West Ham in picture

Super Eagles midfielder Tochukwu Nnadi has shared his thoughts regarding rumours linking him with leaving Marseille this summer, Afrik-Foot reports.

The last few months at Olympique de Marseille have felt like a test of patience, character and belief for Tochukwu Nnadi.

The Nigerian midfielder arrived in the south of France during the winter transfer window carrying growing expectations after an impressive rise through Belgium, but his early weeks at the Stade Vélodrome were far from smooth.

The 21-year-old struggled for regular minutes after his February 2026 move from Belgian side SV Zulte Waregem. Competition for places in midfield, combined with Marseille’s uneven form in Ligue 1, left the energetic midfielder fighting to prove himself in one of Europe’s most demanding football environments.

Reports in France recently suggested Marseille could consider letting him leave in the summer if opportunities remained limited. Premier League clubs including West Ham United, Crystal Palace, Leeds United and Brighton & Hove Albion were all linked with monitoring his situation.

But Nnadi has now made his intentions clear. Speaking ahead of Marseille’s Ligue 1 clash against Le Havre AC, the midfielder insisted he wants to continue his development in France rather than look for a quick exit.

“I don’t know what the future holds, but I want to stay and prove that I belong to this club,” Nnadi told L’Equipe. “I deserve to be here. I think I’ve reached the most difficult point.”

Born in Owerri, Nnadi began his football education at Campos FC before moving to the Madenat Alamal Football Academy in Dubai in 2019. The switch helped sharpen his tactical understanding and discipline before he earned his first professional move to Bulgarian side Botev Plovdiv in 2021.

He made his senior debut in April 2022 and gradually became one of the club’s most dependable midfielders. His energetic displays and ball-winning ability drew wider attention during the 2023 FIFA U-20 World Cup, where he played a major role as Nigeria’s Flying Eagles reached the quarter-finals.

Nnadi breaking through Marseille pressure

Nnadi’s rise accelerated in January 2024 when he joined SV Zulte Waregem for around €150,000. In Belgium, he developed into a mature defensive midfielder known for his pressing, interceptions and recovery work. He helped the club secure promotion before adapting quickly to life in the Belgian top flight.

His performances eventually convinced Marseille to pay about €6 million for his signature in February 2026, a major statement of faith in his potential. Around the same period, he also earned his first senior Nigeria call-up and made his Super Eagles debut in a 3-1 victory over Uganda at the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations.

Although his Marseille career started slowly, recent weeks have brought encouraging signs. Injuries and fitness problems within the squad opened the door for more playing time, and Nnadi responded impressively. He provided assists against FC Nantes and OGC Nice while showing increasing confidence on the ball.

“As far as I’m concerned, I don’t think there’s much pressure,” he said. “It’s the reality of the situation; we have to experience things to the fullest, enjoy ourselves, work hard, and that’s all.

“I feel good, I’m playing, so that’s the most important thing for me. I’m happy to be here, I’m grateful for every opportunity I get.

“As a player, I think it’s really great to play at the Vélodrome, and I want to be able to do it as much as possible.”

Nnadi also spoke about Marseille’s recent decision to keep players at the training ground for several nights following poor results.

“Staying at the training ground is like being at home for me, because I live alone. It’s the director’s decision; we’re footballers, we have to accept it,” he explained.

“This is the situation we’re in now, but we’re continuing to work hard. We’ve spent four nights here; I think there’s a reason for that.

“Right now, the only thing we can do is stick together. For the last two games, I can’t promise anything, but I can say that we’re going to go out there and fight to get the result.”

Those tough moves are beginning to bear fruit as Marseille claimed a fine 1-0 win at Le Havre on Sunday. Tochukwu started in his preferred defensive midfield role as Mason Greenwood’s second half penalty earned Marseille their first away win since early March.