Nigerian-born Arsenal quartet handed two-year scholarships as club unveils new intake

Arsenal have confirmed that four teenagers of Nigerian descent have signed two-year scholarship deals with the club as part of their new first-year scholar intake for the 2026-27 season.

The Premier League champions announced on their official website that Hakeem Abubakar, Emerson Nwaneri, Theo Odaji-Ukueku and Jayden Oba are among nine new scholars who will join the academy on full-time terms.

Under Premier League regulations, players in their Under-17 year must begin the season on a scholarship agreement and can only sign their first professional contracts on or after their 17th birthday.

Contracts signed at Emirates Stadium

The four youngsters completed their scholarship paperwork at a special event held at Emirates Stadium, attended by their families, Head of Academy Coaching Luke Hobbs and Head of Academy Operations Will Oldham.

Each has agreed a two-year scholarship, which will cover the 2026-27 and 2027-28 seasons as they continue their development within Arsenal’s youth structure.

Abubakar, Nwaneri and Odaji-Ukueku have already featured for Arsenal U18s at competitive level, having made their debuts for the side while still schoolboys.

All four players have now been promoted to Arsenal’s U18 squad on a full-time basis for the coming campaign and are also eligible to be registered as U21 players in the club’s Premier League squad.

Profiles of the four scholars

Abubakar is described as a versatile defender who can operate both at centre-back and left-back. He has been part of Arsenal’s academy set-up since 2018, progressing through the age groups to reach scholarship level.

Midfielder Emerson Nwaneri is the younger brother of Ethan Nwaneri, who has been linked with the Nigeria national team, the Super Eagles.

Emerson enjoyed a highly productive 2025-26 season, including scoring a hat-trick against Chelsea U16s in September 2025. He also struck the winning goal in the Premier League U16 National Finals at St George’s Park in November.

Oba’s scholarship comes eight years after he first joined the Arsenal academy, underlining a long association with the club’s youth system.

One of Oba’s standout displays last season arrived in the Premier League U16 National Finals, when he provided two assists for Emerson Nwaneri as Arsenal beat Blackburn Rovers in the semi-finals.

Odaji-Ukueku is viewed as a dynamic holding midfielder with the ability to fill in at right-back when needed, a flexibility attributed to his strong defensive attributes.

The quartet’s elevation to full-time scholarship status continues Arsenal’s policy of promoting talent nurtured within their academy, while also strengthening the club’s connections with players of Nigerian descent across their youth ranks.