Confirmed: Four Nigerian youngsters sign scholarship deals with Arsenal 

Through their official website, Premier League club Arsenal have announced the new intake of academy scholars ahead of the 2024-2025 season, with four teenagers of Nigerian descent part of the group.

Andre Annous, Ife Ibrahim, Joshua Ogunnaike and Samuel Onyekachukwu are among the eleven players who have signed two-year scholarship deals with the Gunners and have been promoted to the U18 team on a full-time basis. 

The quartet will be mentored by Arsenal U18s head coach Jack Wilshere, and be under the leadership of Luke Hobbs who is the Head of Academy Coaching, Academy Manager Per Mertesacker, and Sporting Director Edu. 

Ibrahim, Annous, Ogunnaike and Onyekachukwu have made their debuts in the U18 Premier League in their final season as schoolboys.

A versatile box-to-box midfielder, Annous tallied four goal involvements in seven appearances in last season's U18 Premier League and was called up to train with the first team in March 2024.

Ife Ibrahim is also a versatile midfielder who joined Arsenal in 2016 and has been capped by England at U15 level.

He is comfortable on the ball, good in 1v1 duels. and has a good understanding of Arsenal's game model. 

Ogunnaike, who made his U18 Premier League debut against Brighton & Hove in April, has been described as a strong, powerful defender who likes to get forward.

A centre-back by trade, Onyekachukwu joined Arsenal from Watford in 2019 and he's known for being a strong, right-footed defender who is calm under pressure.

Ifeanyi Emmanuel 

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