The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Chukwueze

  • Arsenal, Leicester table N17b for Chukwueze

    Villarreal of Spain winger, Samuel Chukwueze has gained another heavy transfer boost to his growing value, as sports247.ng learnt he is now on the radars of Arsenal and Leicester City for a fee of N17b (£36m).

    So soon after reports emerged that former La Liga champions, Atletico Madrid are also interested in snatching Chukwueze from Villarreal, the Chile 2015 FIFA U-17 World Cup revelation is now wanted in England.

    Though Chukwueze poured cold water at the weekend in the transfer link with Atletico, it is left to be seen what his reaction will be for the double focus coming his way from the English Premier League.

    Incidentally, both Leicester and Arsenal have very strong Nigerian connections, which could be instrumental in the possibility of the youngster opting out of Villarreal in the summer.

    Arsenal Nigerian connections, which began with Nwankwo Kanu in 1997, continue with Alex Iwobi on their cards, plus other youngsters in their youth teams, across all age-grade levels.

    Similarly, Leicester, who once had the duo of Yakubu Aiyegbeni and Ahmed Musa, still have Wilfred Onyinyen Ndidi and Kelechi Iheanacho in their main squad as well as some Nigerian-born kids in the youth squad.

    Dramatically, though, Arsenal turned down the opportunity of getting Chukwueze for a cheaper fee soon after the Cadet Mundial in 2015.

    Back then, Arsenal failed to reach an agreement with Chukwueze’s agent on a £4m deal, as they preferred 2015 Eaglets’ skipper, Kelechi Nwakali.

    Chukwueze is now rated £36m and The Gunners have joined the chase for the Diamond Academy product, who has four goals in 13 matches across all competitions for Villarreal this season.

    The 19-year-old, who debuted for the Super Eagles in a friendly match against Uganda in Asaba, was promoted to Villarreal’s main team in the summer, after impressive performances with their Segunda Liga squad.

    He could be on his way to Emirates Stadium in 2019, as Arsenal are determined to make up for what they missed in 2015.

    Where they missed out back then, though, The Gunners are back in the picture, as they aim to right all wrongs, but Leicester are also lurking.

  • Villarreal 1-1 Levante: Chukwueze dazzles in La Liga debut

    Super Eagles invitee, Samuel Chukwueze made his La Liga debut for Villarreal as Levante held the Yellow Submarines to a 1-1 draw. His compartiot at Levante Moses Simon was not dressed for the match.

    The 19 year-old, who played for Nigeria at under-17 level, was called-up to the Super Eagles by Gernot Rohr for the games against South Africa and Uganda later in the month.

    Chukwueze joined Villarreal youth setup in 2017, from local side Diamond Academy. After being initially assigned to the club’s Juvenil A squad, he made his senior debut with the reserves on 15 April 2018, coming on as a second-half substitute for Sergio Lozano in a 1–1 Segunda División B away draw against CE Sabadell FC.

    Chukwueze scored his first senior goal on 20 May 2018, netting his team’s second in a 3–1 away defeat of Bilbao Athletic.

    He contributed with two goals in 11 appearances during his first season.

    Chukwueze made his first-team debut on 20 September 2018 in a 2–2 UEFA Europa League home draw against Scottish giants Rangers, coming in for Nicola Sansone in the 79th minute and has played five times for the Valencia based club’s first team.

  • Amuneke to drop Osimhen, Nwakali, Chukwueze

    Amuneke to drop Osimhen, Nwakali, Chukwueze

    Recently appointed head coach of the Nigeria U-20, Emmanuel Amuneke won’t call up the trio of Victor Osimhen, Kelechi Nwakali and Samuel Chukwueze when he announces his first set of call up to the U-20 next week.

    The Flying Eagles coach from scoop gathered by owngoalnigeria.com will leave out the trio to help them focus on their club careers after their recent transfers but might subsequently call them up in the future.

    We gathered he will instead call up players from his last all conquering U-17 side who are still clubless to help keep them in shape before qualifiers for the next Africa youth championship begins later in the year.

    Captain of Nigeria U-17 team to the last World Cup,  Kelechi Nwakali has already penned a five-year deal with Arsenal while Chukwueze is expected to do same in the coming days.

    Team’s topscorer, Osimhen is presently in Germany although not eligible to play for his new side, Wolfsburg he has been training with their B team but trains twice in a week with the main team of the Bundesliga side.

  • Chukwueze rejects Salzburg for Arsenal

    Chukwueze rejects Salzburg for Arsenal

    It can be revealed that Nigeria U-17 starlet Samuel Chukwueze has turned down what his handlers described as “peanuts” offered by Austrian club Red Bull Salzburg so as to join compatriot Kelechi Nwakali at Arsenal.

    Earlier this month, Chukwueze, who played alongside Nwakali at last year’s U17 World Cup, was in Austria along with his mother to negotiate a transfer.

    Nwakali is likely to have his work permit granted having been voted the MVP of the U-17 World Cup in Chile, but that may not be the case for attacking midfielder Chukwueze, who finished as third highest scorer with three goals.

    However, sources have now revealed that Chukwueze’s representatives were far from impressed with what Red Bull offered after Arsenal offered to splash as much as 2.9 million pounds for him.

    “Chukwueze has a better chance of developing at Red Bull, but there was no comparison between what the Austrian club tabled and what Arsenal are willing to cough out,” said a source familiar with this transaction.

    Arsenal will splash 3.1 million pounds on Eaglets skipper Nwakali.

    Both youngsters are now in London to complete their move to The Emirates.

  • Amuneke wants N1.1bn for Nwakali, Chukwueze

    Amuneke wants N1.1bn for Nwakali, Chukwueze

    Allnigeriasoccer.com understands that Golden Eaglets coach, Emmanuel Amuneke, could strike it rich if Nigeria Under 17 internationals Kelechi Nwakali and Samuel Chukwueze are sold to a European club in the near future, as he has demanded  a cumulative transfer fee of 5.3 million euros (about N1.1billion) for both players.

    It has been revealed that Kelechi Nwakali’s economic and sporting rights are owned by Diamond Academy, Umuahia and ASJ Academy Owerri in the ratio 70 : 30 but both teams are only acting as proxies on Amuneke’s behalf.

    If the corporate veil of Diamond Academy is pierced, a certain Tony Adele, who works hand-in-hand with Amuneke, runs the grassroots club in partnership with Frankie Stephen , better known as the United Kingdom – based intermediary of Flying Eagles winger Bernard Bulbwa.

    As for ASJ Academy, the club is owned by Amuneke’s family and the former Barcelona midfielder is represented there by Emeka. They own 30 per cent of the sporting rights of Kelechi Nwakali.

    The ex-Zamalek star only wants to divert attention following the dispute in the sale of Chidiebere Nwakali and Bernard Bulbwa to Manchester City and Esperance respectively.

    The Nigeria Under-17s manager has told teams interested in Nwakali to cough up 3.5 million euros to sign the player, while he will not accept an offer less than 1.8 million euros for Samuel Chukwueze and the agency commission he is expected to receive for the sale of both players is 700,000 euros.

    Amuneke has demanded that the European clubs that finally snap up the players must sign a partnership agreement with his Academy, stipulating that two players from his academy must go on trial with the buying club every year, accompanied by the coach.

  • Golden Eaglets’ Chukwueze eyes EPL move

    Golden Eaglets’ Chukwueze eyes EPL move

    Golden Eaglets sensation Samuel Chukwueze has talked up a move to the English Premier League and hopes to follow in the footsteps of Kelechi Iheanacho, who bagged a deal with Manchester City after the 2013 Fifa Under 17 World Cup.

    It is however revealed that the number 8 is one of the most sought – after Nigerian talents at the ongoing tourney in Chile, with a plethora of clubs in Europe already making enquiries regarding his availability.

    “He (Kelechi Iheanacho) showed a lot of power and quality and he’s now with Manchester City,” Samuel Chukwueze told fifa.com.

    “The English Premier League is my favourite league and the one I watch the most.”

    Chukwueze opened his goalscoring account against Chile on Tuesday after 25 seconds before netting again on the hour mark.

  • CHILE 1-5 NIGERIA: Chukwueze, Nwakali, others hailed

    CHILE 1-5 NIGERIA: Chukwueze, Nwakali, others hailed

    THE GOLDEN Eaglets blistering start to the Chile 2015 FIFA U-17 World Cup has been hailed by Prince Martin Apugo, the President of Diamond Football Academy, Umuahia which produced the Eaglets duo of Samuel Chukwueze and skipper, Kelechi Nwakali.

    Nigeria’s cadet side trounced USA 2-0 in the first game played last Saturday before another blockbuster performance against hosts, Chile on Wednesday morning at the Estadio Sausalito Vina Del Mar which produced a 5-1 win.

    Two goals from Chukwueze in the first and 61st minutes, additional brace from Victor Osimhen in the 66th and 86th minutes and a goal from the captain of the side, Nwakali in the 17th minute from the penalty spot put the Eaglets five goals up while Marcelo Allende’s 81st minute strike was only a consolation for Chile.

    Apugo pointed out that the performance of the Golden Eaglets and especially two  products of his academy shows that talents abound in the country and that if they are properly annexed they can go places.

    He said he was specially impressed with the form of Chukwueze who produced a man of the match performance to score two goals including a strike after 25 seconds which is till date the quickest goal of the current competition, and also assisted  the Eaglets additional two goals.

    He said the form of Nwakali, Chukwueze and the rest of the Golden Eaglets’ players at the ongoing FIFA U-17 World Cup is serving as inspiration to other young players  and in his academy who are now eager  to train all day in their attempt to emulate them and also become stars of tomorrow.

    “I am happy with the feat of the Golden Eaglets in Chile and I want to specially congratulate Samuel Chukwueze and Kelechi Nwakali who are players of my academy. They have set a good example to emerging players that hard work pays. They have distinguished themselves, especially Chukwueze who scored two goals and was felled three times in the 18 yard box for three spot kicks to Nigeria.

    “The players in my academy have derived additional motivation from the performance of the Eaglets in Chile and they have started coming to us daily for training even though we are on break,” Apugo told SportingLife.

    The Golden Eaglets are top of Group A with maximum  six points from two matches and are through to the second round but they will play their last group tie against Croatia on Friday also at the Estadio Sausalito Vina Del Mar.