Wrexham confirm first-ever Super Eagles call-up for former Arsenal lad

Wrexham goalkeeper Arthur Okonkwo has received his first senior call-up to the Nigeria national team after an impressive rise with the English Championship club, Afrik-Foot reports.

The 24-year-old goalkeeper has been included in Éric Chelle’s Super Eagles squad for this summer’s Unity Cup in London after FIFA officially cleared him to represent Nigeria in April. Okonkwo had previously played for England at youth level from Under-15 to Under-18 but remained eligible for Nigeria through his parents.

Wrexham confirmed the news in an official statement, congratulating the towering goalkeeper on reaching another major milestone in his career.

Nigeria will begin their Unity Cup campaign against Zimbabwe at The Valley on Tuesday, May 26, while Jamaica and India will meet in the other semi-final. The final and third-place match are scheduled for Saturday, May 30.

After the London tournament, the Super Eagles will travel to Warsaw for an international friendly against Poland on June 3 before ending their camp with another away fixture against Portugal in Leiria on June 10.

Okonkwo’s inclusion comes after a remarkable spell with Wrexham, where he has become one of the key figures behind the club’s rapid climb through the English leagues. The London-born goalkeeper joined Wrexham permanently in 2024 after leaving Arsenal and has since helped the Welsh side establish themselves in the Championship.

During the 2025-26 season, Okonkwo played 39 league matches, producing a series of important saves as Wrexham battled through one of the toughest divisions in European football.

Standing at 6ft 6in, Okonkwo is regarded as a modern sweeper-keeper who is comfortable starting attacks from deep areas, a quality that could suit Chelle’s plans for a more possession-based Super Eagles side.

Okonkwo rises through Wrexham to Super Eagles

Okonkwo’s journey to the fold of the three-time African champions has been years in the making.

Born in Camden, London, he joined Arsenal’s Hale End academy as an eight-year-old and quickly developed into one of the club’s brightest young goalkeeping prospects. He regularly trained with Arsenal’s senior side during the reign of Unai Emery and signed his first professional contract in 2021.

However, first-team opportunities at the Emirates Stadium proved difficult to secure, leading to loan spells at Crewe Alexandra and Austrian side Sturm Graz. Those moves helped him gain valuable senior experience and toughened him for the demands of professional football.

His career changed dramatically in September 2023 when Wrexham signed him following the retirement of veteran goalkeeper Ben Foster. Under the ownership of Hollywood actors Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney, Wrexham’s global popularity exploded, and Okonkwo quickly became a fan favourite at the STōK Cae Ras.

He helped the club win promotion from League Two during his first season and later became a central figure in their rise into the Championship. Now, his rapid development has opened the door to international football with Nigeria.

The Super Eagles have searched for long-term stability in goal for several years, with Stanley Nwabali currently holding the number one shirt and Maduka Okoye also fighting for a regular place in the squad. Okonkwo’s arrival adds fresh competition and gives Chelle another high-level option ahead of the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers.

There is also growing excitement around the possibility of Okonkwo making his debut in front of a large Nigerian crowd in London during the Unity Cup.

Nigeria won the invitational tournament last year beating Ghana and Jamaica.