Nigeria midfielder Kelechi Nwakali has signed for Spanish second division outfit SD Ponferradina, the club announced on Thursday, Completesports.com reports.
Nwakali last played for another second division side Huesca, who terminated his contract in April this year.
A statement released by Ponferradina on their website read:“Kelechi Nwakali (Owerri, Nigeria, 1998) is a new player for SD Ponferradina. The new Blue and White midfielder will thus continue his career in LaLiga SmartBank, in which he has competed in the last two seasons with AD Alcorcón and SD Huesca.
“Kelechi began his career at the Diamond Football Academy in his country. His qualities caught the attention of Arsenal FC, who signed him for their under-23 team in 2016. Later, he played on loan at MVV Maastrich in the second division of the Netherlands and at VVV Venlo, with whom he competed in the Dutch top flight.
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“In the 18-19 campaign he joined FC Porto, who enrolled him in their B team. For the following campaign he departed Arsenal FC and began his career in Spanish football. SD Huesca signed him which saw the club gain promotion to LaLiga Santander.
“After making his debut in the top flight in the 20/21 season, in the winter market of that year he joined AD Alcorcón on loan, where he became a regular starter and participated in 18 games. Last season, back at SD Huesca, he played in 19 league games and 2 Copa del Rey games. In addition, he is a full international with Nigeria,” Ponferradina stated.
After his contract was terminated by Huesca,
Nwakali released an official statement through his official Twitter account denouncing his treatment by SD Huesca and the club’s Sporting Director, Rubén García, starting in December 2021, by pressuring him not to attend the Africa Cup of Nations, for which he had been called up, paying his wages late.
He was pressurized to sign a new contract in order to get paid the wages he was owed, trying to force his transfer out of the club and, finally, suspending him and banning him from club trainings.
33 Comments
Why do Nigeria’s players like to sign for low calibre clubs? Nwakali should be going to clubs in the English Premier League, Spanish La Liga or Bundasliga. SMH
And you think he wouldn’t jump on one if there were offers?
Those playing in the first division have 4 legs and 2 heads.
Why won’t Nwakali that has only 1 Head and 2 legs keep roaming in 2nd division.
He had an offer from FC Zurich that will be playing champions league qualifying or maybe a drop to europa but he and his agent said the money was too small….His choice.
LOL…my guy…
Second division in Sweden?….. please just stay far away from SE abeg you in the name of God…… Instead of using sentiment of past under age glory to select this obviously substandard player it is better we go for better midfielders with prospects……Tosin keyinde, Alhassan Yusuf, Ishaq Razak, Rapheal Onyedika,Eletu,etc,……We still have established regulars in that position too e.g Innocent Bonke, Wilfred Ndidi,Frank onyeka,……We can also switch some sweet dual national players in Midfield e.g Micheal Olise,Ebere Eze, Malcolm ebowei,…… Nigerian national team is not a place to revive dying football careers because the national team needs vibrant football careers to revive it already as it’s in a dying state……..Haba swedish second Division?….. God forbid.
Pls read it again I can’t find Sweden second division in the the write up
He probably was high on something that’s why he was quick to reply. Just like i was stated, the ones in division 1 don’t have 4 legs or head, He has to start from somewhere
Are you the same as UBFE because only he stated that. Multiple ID people, you are bursted.
LOL.. the CHAIRMAN of their ASSOCIATION is @MAHMOUD SHUAIB..
You may not know HIM @EBUBEDIKE
Please share with us what UBFE stated, because it seems you seeking attention on this platform
The post said Spanish, you have issues with English?
Those playing in the first division have 4 legs and 2 heads.
Why won’t Nwakali that has only 1 Head and 2 legs keep roaming in 2nd division.
Work hard and you’ll be where you deserve because you’re not progressing as one would have thought. Turning down Zurich only to sign for this club shows how much education you need, and stop comparing yourself to your past age group colleagues because your decision making is what has kept you here. I leave you with an advice to keep your head grounded and be ambitious, the big money will come from exposure and not the way you’re going about your career.
Words of wisdom…..We saw how Osimhen and several other players change their management team at the slightest. It is for a reason but this guy and his brother/agent/mgmt team has not helped this boy at all…….From Arsenal after the u17 to Porto to mastricht to Huesca ( We all know how that ended) and now to another division 2 in Spain…Dude had or still has the talent but something is wrong somewhere. This guy was touted to blow up with Osimhen and chukwueze…..the difference is 7up lol
7up LMAO the guy which one is 7up? What about Pepsi? The guy is doing family business with his brothers with small vision only thinking about how much they can make this very moment. I feel sorry for his talent because he is one player I love. You’re right Osihmen doesn’t have time before showing one the door if you don’t do the needful. At this point Osihmen don Waka pass am so he should not even think they’re still colleagues. So that he can start living in realism.
You speak with great wisdom.
The 7up comes from an old commercial that used to say 7up the difference is clear lmaooo back when fido dido ws their signature lmaaoo..
LMFAO!!!
Make una no JOKE with this GUY o…HE is BETTER than MIKEL OBI… If I lie ask JIMMYBALL sori JIMMYLIE… LMFAO!!
You too de find trouble.
Lol….
@monkey post, you no go let sleeping lion rest now.
Lol…WHO come be the sleeping LION?
Hahahaha…better than Mikel Obi and all super eagles midfielders put together….LMAOoo. The same way Junior Ajayi is better than Iheancho, Dessers and Onuachu put together….LMAooo
Wetin we no go hear for CSN.
After dem use hype kill the boy career finish, dem don switch to Usman Mohamed, Joel Obi, and Nwobodo.
I still cant believe he turned down $23k per month, first division and European football thinking he is still in the same class as Osimhen and Chukwueze, not knowing that FC Zurich was just doing him a favor by still offering him 1st division football in a decent league like the swiss league with his zero goals, zero assists in 3 seasons performance while at a miniature club like SD Huesca. I hope he is gets the 6-digit figures he thinks he deserves at Ponferradina.
Like his devotee on this forum, the boy really thinks highly of himself.
At 24 going to 25 years of age still playing 2nd division football, It will take a huge miracle and an exceptional individual performance like that of Sadiq Umar for him to ever attract clubs from major leagues again in his career.
That’s what a bad attitude, a bad company and a hoard of fabulist sycophants do to one’s career.
LMFAO!!
It was still the same PERSON that said HE use to JUGGLE the SOCCER BALL 5000 times or so with one FOOT @ AGE 7…
The LEGENDARY DR DREY I tell you nothing wey PERSON no go HEAR for this PLATFORM..
Did he actually turn down $23k? I tot it was the usual media hype and all.
You dey mind that liar from the pit of hell. Abeg go very why he didn’t go to FC Zurich. Not this lying parrot that CSN allows in here. Seems he hasn’t being eating good since Rorh left
Okponu Ayirada.
You that has verified why he didn’t go to Zurich why not tell us and reveal to the world once again what a filthy senseless liar you are…..LMAOoo.
Maybe it’s you father that works in FC Zurich that has told you something different from what is already in the media.
Abirun oshi.
Yes… I could juggle the ball in air at age 7yrs – 8yrs already over a thousand without dropping. Genes different and at age 7yrs none of my peers down till guts who were 9yrs could beat in in short races and dashes we do in the street. We have played football and we know the game… Person wey good, good… ball know him people… Kelechi Nwakali just needs only consistent run of games. footballers hit their peak starting 27yrs for those a bit late on their potentials. Nwakali is still better than Joe Aribo who can’t cope with African football… Anyone can dribble whitemen in their soft space football. Come and play selense and stainless against Ghana, Cameroon and Senegal let us see? Hahahaha… @Dr.Drey na me talk am… If we get quality we for dey WC
Hahahahahaha….you could count from one to one thousand in 1985 when you were still in primary 2 in the then old benue state…..??? I mean the benue state of 1985 not the benue state of 2022….??? LMAOoooo.
A leopard really never sheds it’s spots….. lmao.
Don’t worry, your nwakali will peak at 27 still playing 2nd division football for almost 85% of his entire career and get signed by FC Barcelona…… Lmaooo. He is indeed better than Aribo…..no wonder he scored zero goals and provided zero assists for Huesca in 3 season before those ones booted him out of their club into the streets, while Aribo already scored in an European final and is set to grace the best league in the world when the season kicks off in August. Lmaoo
We didn’t go to the world cup because we had your useless black brained failures (your owns who didn’t know our opponents had changed tactics…lmaoo) coaching the team and not because we didn’t have quality players….same players Rohr used to qualify for ALL tournaments in sight with the ease of swallowing okro soup while he was incharge.
It is indeed very disheartening the hear or see how Kelechi’s minders have relegated him from an Arsenal prospect to one who now struggles for game time at unknown 2nd division clubs.
Thinking of it that this guy once ranked in the same level as Victor Osimhen and Samuel Chukwueze, both of whom are not only playing for big teams at the highest levels, but are currently worth millions of dollars in transfer and endorsement values.
When one considers the fact that players who were not rated in Kelechi,Victor & Samuel’s level in their U17 class of 2015 have even developed their careers far better than our dear Kelechi Nwakali, and that’s talking about Kingsley Daniel who featured regularly in the Serie A before the unfortunate injury that have kept him out for months. Kingsley even got his SE debut under Rohr without anyone clamoring or begging for his invitation, he got it on merit, deservedly.
Of worthy mention from that same Golden Eaglets class of 2015 is Orji Okonkwo who now plays in the MLS if I’m not mistaken.
It may also be interesting to note that the duo of Chidera Ejuke and Terem Moffi were among the guys that were dropped from that team, and seeing the levels these guys have gotten to, one can’t help but wonder what sort of decision Kelechi’s minders have been taking concerning him.
Thinking of it that his elder brother, Chidiebere, under the same minders was also relegated from a Manchester City prospect to one that is almost non-existent in professional football, one may be moved to tears. Look at the level the likes of Iheanacho,Success, Awoniyi,and Uzoho are currently operating at and compare and also consider that Ndid was dropped from that class of 2013!!!!
I will not conclude this piece without asking about Funsho Bamgboye, another talented guy in that Golden Eaglets class of 2015 whom we expected so much from. I was shocked when his minders took him to Hungary to start his professional career. Not Belgium, not Holland, Denmark, Norway or any of the feeder teams of those teams in the big leagues, but Hungary. Funsho have remained stock in Hungary since then and from the look of things it will take a particularly exceptional performance to get him into a much better league.
Lessons, lessons , lessons all the way on how not to manage a talent.
I rest my case.
@OmoEsan I agree with you… The early decisions made about Kelechi Nwakali was just down to money… I don’t want to believe that the likes of Porto, Ajax and and other clubs did not come for him… There was a case where Amuneke encouraged someone to go to Portugal and the lad chose a top team, I think that was either Iheanacho or Nwakali. Development is good when a player is still learning the ropes of professional football on the big stage…
Kelechi Nwakali, was totally indiscipline, his behavior made him a second division player, he allowed fame to enter his head.