Former Arsenal midfielder Kelechi Nwakali has found himself at the center of controversial reports that claim he had been frozen out of Barnsley’s squad for returning late to preseason training, Soccernet.ng reports.
Several Nigerian outlets suggested that Barnsley head coach Conor Hourihane no longer considers the 27-year-old part of his plans for the 2025/26 League One campaign.
Furthermore, there have been claims that Nwakali had been instructed to train separately and was omitted from preseason and early matchday squads.
Barnsley to React to Nwakali’s Sack
However, Soccernet.ng understands via Eagles Tracker on X (formerly Twitter) that the reports of Nwakali being sacked are fake news.
“I’ve been told that the Kelechi Nwakali sacked by Barnsley story is fake news, and that his club will release a statement maybe today to clear the reports. You have to wonder where the story started from.” wrote the platform on their social media page.
At the time of writing, Barnsley FC have yet to issue an official statement, but this casts doubt on the widely circulated claims.
Déjà vu for Nwakali
The controversy has stirred memories of April 2022, when Nwakali’s contract at Spanish side SD Huesca was terminated six months early after a bitter standoff.
Then, the midfielder alleged he was pressured not to honour Nigeria’s AFCON call-up, denied wages, and even barred from training.
Now, with rumours swirling again at Barnsley, the midfielder’s career narrative risks being overshadowed by disputes off the pitch—even when unconfirmed.
With Barnsley expected to issue a clarification soon, Nwakali’s immediate future remains uncertain. Until then, his absence from matchday squads continues to fuel speculation of his exit.