Barnsley coach clears the air on Kelechi Nwakali situation

Barnsley manager Conor Hourihane has denied reports claiming that Nigerian midfielder Kelechi Nwakali has been sacked by the club ahead of the 2025 summer transfer window closure.

Speaking after one of Barnsley’s training sessions, Hourihane clarified that the speculation surrounding Nwakali’s supposed dismissal was baseless.

“Kelechi has not been sacked by the club. The news going around is completely untrue—a figment of someone’s imagination,” the Barnsley boss said, expressing surprise that such a story had even gained traction.

While firmly denying that the player had been dismissed, Hourihane admitted that Nwakali remains among those whose futures are uncertain as the transfer window edges closer to its deadline. However, the club itself has yet to issue an official statement on the midfielder’s situation.

Nwakali, who signed a three-year contract with the Reds in August 2024, has found himself sidelined in recent months. He has not featured in any of Barnsley’s pre-season matches or early competitive fixtures this campaign. His absence was initially linked to a delayed return following a family matter in Nigeria, but doubts over his long-term future at Oakwell persist.

The 27-year-old midfielder, once regarded as one of Nigeria’s brightest prospects after captaining the Golden Eaglets to victory at the 2015 FIFA U-17 World Cup, has had a career marked by promise and setbacks.

His move to Barnsley was seen as an opportunity to revive his career in English football, but uncertainty now looms over whether he will still be part of Hourihane’s squad beyond the close of the transfer window.

For now, Barnsley fans await official clarity, while the player’s next steps remain the subject of speculation.