Kelechi Nwakali leaves Barnsley after contract is terminated by mutual consent

Kelechi Nwakali has left Barnsley after the League One club agreed to terminate the midfielder’s contract by mutual consent, with one year remaining on his deal.

The 28-year-old, who has made appearances for Nigeria, had been out of favour at Barnsley and had seen very little playing time since the 2024/25 season. The club had been seeking to move him on for some time before reaching an agreement that allows him to leave as a free agent.

Nwakali joined Barnsley and featured 26 times during his first season with the club. One of the highlights of that campaign came at Exeter, where he scored an impressive goal.

However, his involvement declined significantly the following season. He was frozen out by then-manager Conor Hourihane after returning late from the summer break and spent much of the campaign away from the first-team picture.

Nwakali eventually made four substitute appearances towards the end of the season, at a point when Hourihane was preparing to leave his position as head coach. The midfielder was then unable to make an appearance under Barnsley’s new manager, Daniel Stendel.

That lack of first-team involvement contributed to the decision to end his contract early. Nwakali had initially been due to remain with the club for another year, but the agreement with Barnsley brings his time in England to an end.

Recent reports have linked him with a move to Cypriot club Omonia on a free transfer. No agreement with Omonia has been confirmed in the information available.

Nwakali was once regarded as one of the brightest emerging talents in Nigerian football. He attracted major attention after being named the best player at the 2013 FIFA U-17 World Cup, where his performances strengthened his reputation as a potential future star.

His displays led to a high-profile move to Arsenal, but he was unable to establish himself in the club’s first team. The anticipated progression to senior football at Arsenal did not materialise, and his career subsequently continued elsewhere.

The end of his Barnsley contract gives Nwakali the opportunity to find a new club as a free agent. Omonia have been mentioned as a possible destination, while the midfielder now considers the next stage of his career after a difficult period at Oakwell.