Kelechi Nwakali leaves Barnsley to continue career as a free agent

Nigeria midfielder Kelechi Nwakali has left Barnsley and entered free agency after ending his time with the League One club.

The 28-year-old central midfielder’s departure was registered on 27 August 2026, bringing his stay at Barnsley to an end after just over two years. Nwakali joined the English club from Portuguese side Chaves in August 2024.

He did not feature in Barnsley’s opening two possible matches of the 2026-27 campaign, recording no appearances in either the EFL Cup or League One before his departure.

Nwakali began his senior career with Arsenal under-23s after moving from Nigeria’s Diamond Academy in August 2016. He subsequently spent loan spells with Dutch clubs MVV Maastricht and VVV-Venlo, as well as FC Porto B, before leaving Arsenal’s youth setup for Spanish football.

The midfielder joined SD Huesca in September 2019 and was part of the team that won the Spanish second tier in the 2019-20 season. He later spent time on loan at AD Alcorcon during the 2020-21 campaign before leaving Huesca in April 2022.

After a period without a club, Nwakali moved to Ponferradina in July 2022. He made his next move a year later, joining Chaves in a deal worth €250,000, before switching to Barnsley in the summer of 2024.

Nwakali represented Nigeria at youth level and was a member of the country’s Under-17 World Cup-winning team in 2015. He was also named Player of the Year at that tournament, adding an individual honour to his international success.

A right-footed player who operates in central midfield, Nwakali stands 1.84m tall. His highest recorded market value was €1m, while his current valuation is €200,000.

His latest club change leaves Nwakali without a team after his departure from Barnsley, ending his latest spell in English football.