Kelechi Nwakali joins Omonia 29th May on free transfer from Barnsley

Nigeria midfielder Kelechi Nwakali has joined Cypriot club Omonia 29th May from Barnsley on a free transfer, completing his move on 1 September 2026. The 28-year-old central midfielder has signed a contract running until 31 May 2027.

Nwakali moves to the Cyprus League after two years with Barnsley, whom he joined from Portuguese side Chaves in August 2024. He made the switch to the English club after spending the previous season with Chaves, who had signed him from Spanish side Ponferradina for €250,000 in July 2023.

The Nigerian arrives at Omonia 29th May with a market value of €200,000 and brings experience from clubs in England, Portugal, Spain and the Netherlands. A right-footed midfielder standing 1.84m tall, he began his European career after moving from Diamond Academy to Arsenal Under-23s in August 2016 for €3.5m.

Nwakali spent periods on loan with Dutch clubs MVV Maastricht and VVV-Venlo before joining FC Porto B on loan in 2018. He later returned to Arsenal Under-23s, before making a permanent move to SD Huesca in September 2019.

During the 2019-20 season, Nwakali helped Huesca win the Spanish second tier. He also had a loan spell with AD Alcorcon in the 2020-21 campaign before leaving Huesca in April 2022.

His international honours include winning the Under-17 World Cup with Nigeria in 2015, when he was also named Player of the Year at the tournament. That success remains the standout achievement of his youth international career.

Nwakali joins Omonia 29th May following Barnsley’s 2025-26 campaign and is contracted to the Cypriot club until the end of May 2027.