No word from Nigeria: Eric Chelle yet to reach out to Arsenal midfielder Nwaneri ahead of U21 Euro

Allnigeriasoccer.com can exclusively report with certainty that Nigeria coach Eric Chelle has yet to initiate contact with Arsenal wonderkid Ethan Nwaneri ahead of the 2025 European U21 Championship.

Nwaneri, who became the youngest-ever Premier League debutant at 15, remains eligible for both England and Nigeria, and his international future continues to be the subject of speculation.

It was claimed that the Malian football tactician met with the history-making midfielder last month to discuss the possibility of the London-born player switching allegiance to the three-time African champions.

However, sources close to the situation have disclosed to this website that no such meeting has taken place. 

Neither the Nigeria Football Federation nor Eric Chelle himself has reached out to Nwaneri, his representatives or his family at this time.

With the U21 Euro around the corner, Chelle's reluctance to engage the Arsenal teenage sensation could prove costly as England edge closer to securing the youngster's future. 

Nwaneri is known to be on the radar of manager Thomas Tuchel and could earn a promotion to the Three Lions next season should he impress at this summer's European U21 Championship.

The Nigeria Football Federation have enjoyed the idea of recruiting dual nationals, with players like Ola Aina, Joe Aribo, Alex Iwobi, Ademola Lookman, Calvin Bassey, William Troost-Ekong and Leon Balogun playing cap-tying games for the Super Eagles.

The 18-year-old Nwaneri broke out in the Premier League this season, registering six goal involvements in twenty-five appearances ahead of Arsenal's trip to Southampton for their final game of the campaign.

The Hale End Academy graduate represented the Young Lions at the 2023 U17 Euro and Fifa U17 World Cup, which means he is provisionally cap-tied to England and would require a one-time switch to play for Nigeria. 

Nwaneri has left his international future wide open as he has not ruled out the possibility of representing the Super Eagles, but he's leaning more towards his country of birth, England.

Ifeanyi Emmanuel

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