Nigeria’s Super Eagles midfielder, Kelechi Nwakali has signed for Spanish second division outfit SD Ponferradina, the club announced on Thursday.
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.
“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.
Packaged by Lanre Olabisi
