Former Golden Eaglets captain Kelechi Nwakali is embracing a fresh opportunity in his career after joining English League One side Barnsley this summer.
At 26, Nwakali is determined to make the most of his return to England, following a nomadic career that has seen him move across Europe.
Reflecting on his return to England, Nwakali is eager to make an impact at Barnsley.
“It has been my dream to come back to England, so when the opportunity came again, it was the right time to do it,” he said to the Yorkshire Post. “Of course, I had different options such as going back to Spain, but I wanted to come back to England.”
A chance at redemption with Barnsley
For Nwakali, his move to Barnsley is a crucial moment in his career: “It’s not unfinished business, but just to prove my worth again, and football is about moving around.”
He is under no illusions about the challenges that come with adapting to a new club but remains focused on making the most of his opportunity.
“Every player understands that when you move into a new team, you have to adapt and wait for the right moment to get into the squad.”
Nwakali’s start at Barnsley has been slow, with just one appearance since his arrival. Nonetheless, he is committed to being fully prepared for the demands of League One football.
“It’s been frustrating because everyone wants to play, but at the same time, you have to keep waiting for the opportunity to come.
“There’s enough time in the training sessions to prepare and get better to get into the league team. The most important thing is to help the team with my quality.”
Nwakali’s international career has not mirrored the success of his U-17 peers, as he has made just four senior appearances for Nigeria.
His only major tournament with the Super Eagles came at the 2021 Africa Cup of Nations in Cameroon, where Nigeria exited in the Round of 16 after a loss to Tunisia.
