Teenage fullback of Nigerian descent trains with Arsenal first team pre-Atletico Madrid

Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta promoted teenage fullback of Nigerian descent Josh Nichols to first-team training ahead of the club's UEFA Champions League encounter with Atlético Madrid at the Emirates Stadium.

Nichols took part in Monday's session at the Sobha Realty Training Centre in London Colney as the Gunners completed their final preparations for the league phase match. 

With several key players, including Noni Madueke, Gabriel Jesus, Kai Havertz and Martin Odegaard, sidelined through injury, the 19-year-old'S chances of making the matchday squad have significantly improved.

Last season, Nichols received five senior call-ups and made his first-team debut in a League Cup tie against Bolton Wanderers in September 2024.

The right-back is one of nine players of Nigerian descent named in Arsenal’s B list for the Champions League, alongside Khari Ranson, Cam’ron Ismail, Joshua Ogunnaike, Samuel Onyekachukwu, Ethan Nwaneri, Andre Harriman-Annous, Ife Ibrahim and Daniel Oyetunde.

Should Nichols make his Champions League debut against Los Rojiblancos, he will don the number 48 shirt.

Born in Newham, the promising defender is eligible to represent Nigeria through his mother, as well as England, his country of birth, and Jamaica, his father's homeland.

Nichols has been with Arsenal since U9 level and signed his first professional contract with the club in July 2024.

Ifeanyi Emmanuel

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