FC Porto have confirmed the loan signing of Kelechi Nwakali from Arsenal.
The 20 year old joined the Gunners in 2016 and has been out on loan three times since then: twice at MVV Maastricht as well as a spell at VVV Venlo.
He’ll now spend the 2018-19 campaign on loan with the Portuguese giants, initially with Porto B, and they have an option to make the deal permanent at the end of the season.
Nwakali says that he’s looking to develop as a player during his time with the club. Speaking to the official Porto website, he said, “My main goal is to develop and evolve as a player.
“Improve my qualities and the other aspects that I know I need to correct to help me grow in the way I play.
“I think FC Porto is the right place to evolve as a player. There are good players, young people, and I think I’ll grow up here.
I know FC Porto very well, because one of my football idols has played here: Deco.
“He was a midfielder that I loved to watch play and I really hope to be able to meet him one day and tell him the importance he had in my desire to be a football player.”
Best of luck to him.
Good stuff, this kid was very highly rated when we signed him after winning the u17 World Cup as the captain. I hope he can be successful in Porto, he has every chance of making the breakthrough next season if he does. All the best Kelechi.
He was really a talent to watch during the U_17 world cup but I wonder why he hasn’t stay to play for d fielders team but goes out on loan everytime. Now d story is, he to be permanent. #eyes rolling
Talented kid but unfortunately he hasn’t been able to get a work permit and his career has suffered as a result. I do wonder where the logic is in signing talented non-EU players (see also: Campbell, Wellington, Asano) and shipping them around Europe in the hope they end up getting enough international caps to get a WP. I can’t think of any player, Arsenal or otherwise, where this has worked.
Great comment. Can anyone think of one where it has worked?
Eboue?
Though we hadn’t signed him technically, he was sent to Bevereen along with his countryman Ne, I think.
Well Eboue took a shortcut when he married into the EU, took over from Lauren, kept Ronaldinho in his pocket in the champions league final and maybe these kids could learn a bit from him.
‘kept Ronaldinho in his pocket in the champions league. ‘ And this is basically the reason I think he was a better, more technically gifted player that Sagna. He could dribble a ball and deliver crosses to players’ heads and through balls to players’ feet. Sagna could defend and then pass a ball and that’s it. Did he have a better assist count than Eboue for The Arsenal?
‘maybe these kids could learn a bit from him.’ And marry into the EU? I kid, I kid.
At one point our goal kicks used to be directed to Sagna. That guy played for us at our worst period in the last 20 years and was probably one of the most consistent players in that period. Absolutely loved Sagna. He may not have been that vocal but he was a silent leader and a model pro.
We don’t know where the next Messi will come from. If players are talented enough to deserve a chance, we should give them one even if they come from outside the EU.
Wenger always said “I look at the quality, I don’t look at the passport”.
Man City is working on a very expensive version of this project through its network of clubs in the “City Football Group”. So far the most noteworthy transfer from their non-EU clubs was Aaron Mooy from Melbourne to Huddersfield, but the potential is there… Interesting article in the Guardian:
https://www.theguardian.com/news/2017/dec/15/manchester-city-football-group-ferran-soriano?CMP=Share_AndroidApp_Copy_to_clipboard
Just the mere notion of a “network of clubs” owned by City Oil makes me vomit in my mouth a little bit
Selling players to other clubs helps build a rapport, which is useful if you want to buy one of theirs in future.
We should be keeping track of David Neres at Ajax.
There is NO option to buy. His brother stated that Porto wanted that option but Arsenal refused. This kid reminds me very much of Abou Diaby, minus the injuries. He could be a top quality player. He will have to get regular call ups for Nigeria to get a work permit to play for us, although as we are leaving the EU things may change with work permits
How ironic is it that a rule we are using discriminates against non-EU players, yet countries within the EU don’t. And yet we’re leaving the EU.
If there is an option to make the deal permanent you would assume the club has put a large sell on clause/reasonable buyback clause? Feels like a situation where there’s not a great chance of the lad getting a work permit next summer, so the club feel it’s better to move him on for his own development then be in limbo here. Expect to see more of this post brexit where prospects from EU countries will have similar work permit problems.