Iwobi, Kelechi Nwakali, Other Nigerian Stars At Arsenal To Get New Contract Policy

Nigeria forward Alex Iwobi and youth players at the club born of Nigerian descent like Arthur Okonkwo, Tobi Omole, Xavier Amaechi, Joseph Olowu, Kelechi Nwakali (former Nigeria U-20 captain) and Tolaji Bola can hope to extend their Arsenal contracts midway and not wait until the last minutes of the deals.

Iwobi signed an improved contract this summer which takes his stint with the Gunners to 2023.

Now Arsenal hope to end their hitherto uneasy habit of allowing their star players run down their contracts.

Former Barcelona football chief Raul Sanllehi, who is now in charge of a similar role in north London following the departure of chief executive Ivan Gazidis last month, said a player's contract "should never go the last year, as a policy".


Arsenal are likely to lose Aaron Ramsey in similar circumstances after his offer of a new deal was withdrawn.

"In general, I do believe that a player's contract should never go to the last year, as a policy," said Sanllehi in an interview with the Sunday Telegraph.

"But I don't think I am inventing the wheel. Anybody could agree on that. Normally, the contracts of the players are for five years. You need to have a clear idea of what you want to do with that player when he is in the third year, at the latest."

Arsenal's wage bill is increasing and the club was not willing to give Ramsey the pay rise he was seeking.

Sanllehi added: "We don't take decisions overnight, on a quick reflection. We really go through not only a long period of thinking but also a lot of people are involved.

"People in which we have a high trust. In general I would like to make that point clear. There are no decisions that are left to the last minute. When we reach a decision, it is for a reason."