Barnsley head coach Conor Hourihane has rubbished rumours suggesting that Nigerian midfielder Kelechi Nwakali has been sacked by the League One side, insisting the reports are “completely inaccurate.”
“Fired? Not heard anything about that. Wide of the mark,” Hourihane said in an interview with BBC Radio when asked about the speculation.
Naija News reports that the clarification follows days of speculation linking Kelechi Nwakali with an abrupt exit from Oakwell.
Contrary to those claims, Hourihane confirmed that the Super Eagles midfielder remains a Barnsley player under contract until June 30, 2027, though he admitted the former Arsenal youngster is currently out of his first-team plans.
Nwakali has been absent from Barnsley’s pre-season and competitive fixtures this summer. Initially, his delayed return from Nigeria, reportedly due to a family matter, kept him out, but his absence has since extended into the new campaign.
Despite this, Hourihane was clear that there had been no disciplinary breach or contractual fallout, stressing that any move away from the club would be on professional terms.
“We’re open to what’s best for the player and the club,” the manager explained, hinting that Nwakali may be allowed to leave if he seeks more regular playing time elsewhere.
Sources close to the player suggest that three to four clubs are closely monitoring his situation, with the possibility of a transfer before the summer window closes on August 30.
The 26-year-old midfielder joined Barnsley in August 2024 on a three-year deal and featured in 26 matches last season before losing his place towards the end of the campaign.
Nwakali’s career has been one of constant movement since signing for Arsenal in 2016, where he failed to make a senior appearance. He has since played in the Netherlands, Portugal, and Spain before making the switch to England’s third tier.
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