18-Year-Old Nigerian Midfielder Olayinka Promoted To Arsenal First Team Training

Published: July 09, 2019

Promising Nigerian midfielder James Olayinka was invited to train with Arsenal first team by manager Unai Emery on Monday, July 8, allnigeriasoccer.com reports.

With a number of first-team players absent from training due to international commitments, including Super Eagles midfielder Alex Iwobi, the Spanish tactician called up Olayinka and three promising youngsters to join the first team at London Colney.

A product of Arsenal's Hale End Academy, the 18-year-old Olayinka penned his first professional contract in January 2019, twelve years after he joined the club.

He had a fine season at Arsenal in the 2018-2019 campaign, making appearances in the Premier League 2, EFL Trophy, FA Youth Cup, U18 Premier League and U18 Premier League Cup.

Predominantly a defensive-minded midfielder, Olayinka netted his first competitive goal for Arsenal youth teams in the 7-0 demolition of Leicester City U18 in August 2018.

He trained with Arsenal's first team as a first-year scholar in November 2017 and was in the traveling party for a warm weather training camp in Dubai, United Arab Emirates four months ago.

Ifeanyi Emmanuel

Photo Credit : arsenal.com