Super Falcons prospect Chiemela Ude signs new Arsenal deal, earns U21 promotion

By Dayo Awoniyi 

Arsenal’s rising star and Nigeria prospect Chiemela Ude has committed her future to the European champions, signing a new contract that will keep her at the club until the end of the 2026/2027 season.

The highly-rated goalkeeper has also been rewarded with a promotion to Arsenal’s U21 squad, marking a significant step in her development.

The English-Nigerian shot-stopper, who has been hailed for her potential, was part of the club’s pre-season training camp in Kamloops, Canada, and is expected to continue impressing in the coming seasons.

Her new deal and promotion to the U21 squad are seen as a key part of Arsenal’s long-term plans for success, particularly as they look to build on their dominance in both domestic and European competitions.

Ude’s decision to extend her stay at Arsenal is a major boost for the club, especially after the departures of Ayomide and Omotara Junaid, two Nigerian players who left the club ahead of the new campaign.

Ude’s continued development within the Arsenal system could pave the way for further progress and potentially solidify her spot in the Super Falcons squad in the future.

The young goalkeeper took to Instagram to express her excitement about the new contract, saying:
“Continuing my journey with the club for another two seasons. Proud to be part of the team and ready to keep pushing, learning, and growing every step of the way.

“Will definitely miss a few of my very good friends who’ve moved on, wishing them all the best on their journeys.”

Chiemela Ude joined Arsenal in the 2021/2022 season after successfully fending off competition from other London clubs such as Chelsea, West Ham United, and Millwall.

Since arriving at the club, Ude has made significant strides, playing an important role in Arsenal’s Capital Women’s Senior Cup victory last season. She also featured in the prestigious FA PGA Champions Cup, further highlighting her growing stature within the team.

Born in 2008, Ude’s career trajectory has been impressive, and her performances have already caught the eye of both club and national selectors.

Her involvement with the England U17s in a UEFA Women’s U17 Championship qualifier against the Faroe Islands in October 2024 has led to her provisional cap-tie to England.

This means that Ude is now officially ineligible to represent Nigeria at the senior level, a move that could impact her future international career with the Super Falcons.

Despite this, her continued development at Arsenal could see her become a key figure for the England Women’s National Team in the years to come, although her Nigerian heritage and ties to the Super Falcons remain significant.

As the young goalkeeper enters this pivotal phase of her career, Arsenal fans and observers will be eagerly watching to see how she handles the transition to the U21s and continues to make strides on the women’s football scene.

Samuel Ahmadu

Samuel Ahmadu is a distinguished multimedia journalist and women's football expert with over 15 years of experience in the industry. He began his career at Goal.com in February 2014, where he served as an African women's football correspondent for nearly eight years. During his tenure at Goal.com, Samuel covered major events such as three Women's Africa Cup of Nations (2016, 2018, 2022) and the 2015 FIFA Women's World Cup in Canada plus 2018 FIFA World Cup in Russia. His work at Goal.com earned him widespread acclaim, particularly for his in-depth profiles of African football stars, notably Asisat Oshoala, whose rise he documented from her early years to her breakthrough at the FIFA U20 Women's World Cup in 2014. Prior to his role at Goal.com, Samuel freelanced for various print and broadcast media outlets in Nigeria, including Graphics Newspaper, Radio Nigeria, Grace FM, and Savid Newspaper. His extensive experience and expertise led to his appointment to the Nigeria Football Federation's Standing Committee on Women's Football Development from 2016 to 2018. Since February 2018, Samuel has been the Social Media Manager for Nigeria's women's national teams.In 2019, Samuel joined the Confederation of African Football (CAF) as a women's football content contributor and was promoted to Women's Football Editor in 2021. His contributions to women's football continued as he worked as a Media Consultant for Content Creation and Editorials at the 2022 CAF Women's Champions League. Currently, Samuel also serves as the spokesman for the Nigeria Women Football League, further solidifying his influence and dedication to the growth of women's football in Africa.

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