FLASHBACK: Liverpool Midfielder Ejaria: I Have Pledged My International Future To Nigeria

Anglo - Nigerian midfielder Ovie Ejaria is one of the top youngsters at Arsenal’s youth academy.

The 16 - year - old, who has been on the books of the Gunners since the age of 9, has said that he would consider representing Nigeria ahead of his country of birth, England.

Ovie Ejiara was on the fringes of the Golden Eaglets that won the Fifa Under 17 World Cup a record fourth time last November before he was summoned back to the United Kingdom by the Arsenal brass.

“I have been to Nigeria twice, when I was much younger and most recently for the Under 17 screening exercise held last July.”

“I could not continue training with the squad because I had to return to England for school and the start of pre - season,” Ovie Ejiara told SL10.

“Though I was born in England, my parents are Nigerians. So I have pledged my international future to Nigeria.”

Primarily listed for the Arsenal Under 16s, Ovie Ejiara has been invited to train with the Under 18s and even the Under 21 squad this season, a good sign that he is making progress at the Emirates.

“I have trained with the Under 21s and being on the bench for the Under 18 team.”

“I am in contact with the other Nigerian players at Arsenal - Semi Ajayi and Chuba Akpom - and I sometimes train with Alex Iwobi,” he said.

Ovie Ejiara describes himself as a technical midfielder who loves to create and score goals.

Originally published by SL10.ng on February 18, 2014 by Editor, allnigeriasoccer.com Ifeanyi Emmanuel

Photo Credit : liverpoolfc.com