Nigeria U17 international Kelechi Nwakali has been lined up to train with Arsenal ahead of the start of the 2016-2017 season.

The central midfielder has been in London for the past two weeks, specifically March 16, to put the finishing touches on the five-year contract he has agreed with the Emirates outfit.

Arsenal will only begin processing Nwakali’s work permit in the summer when he would have attained the age of majority and the preliminary contract he signed becomes activated.

“Kelechi Nwakali is not coming back to Nigeria, he has gone to London to stay,” a representative of the Diamond/ASJ Academy star told allnigeriasoccer.com.

“He will do pre-season training with Arsenal. It is no longer in our hands if he’ll train with the first team or the Academy, they know the best for him.

“His application for a work permit can only be processed after he clocks 18.”

Kelechi Nwakali rose to prominence at the 2015 Fifa Under 17 World Cup, where he was named the Golden Ball winner and assisted the Golden Eaglets win the tournament for the fifth time.

Ifeanyi Emmanuel