Chelsea-Linked Nigerian Starlet Kelechi Rejects Offer From Maccabi Haifa

American-born Nigerian midfielder Kelechi Onyewuenyi has turned down a move to Israeli Premier League club Maccabi Haifa, according to information gathered by allnigeriasoccer.com.

Having been linked with a transfer to Chelsea, Norwegian and Swedish clubs, Maccabi Haifa appeared to be the player's destination after he was invited to trial with the Greens.

Maccabi Haifa coaches were highly impressed with the performance of Kelechi during trials which lasted for two weeks, and the club had offered him a four-year contract until the end of the 2020-2021 season.

The club had an option to release him from the agreement at the end of each season by written notice no later than May 1 of each year.

But the midfielder and his camp turned down the proposal from Maccabi Haifa, insisting that the duration of the deal has to be a maximum of two years.

Kelechi's developmental contract with Houston Dynamo expired when he turned 18, and he is currently a free agent.

Ifeanyi Emmanuel