Wolves offer Nigeria-eligible youngster Temple Ojinnaka his first professional contract

ENGLISH Premier League side Wolverhampton Wanderers has offered Nigeria-eligible defender Temple Ojinnaka a professional contract after he impressed the coaches in the club's academy.

Ojinnaka, 20, is a versatile player who can be deployed as a central defender and is also comfortable playing in the centre of the pitch as an anchorman. Born in Italy, he came to Wolves at the age of 12 but it took a long time to get his registration sorted out and he started playing games for the club 18 months later.

Moving through the youth ranks, Ojinnaka earned his first call-up for a Premier League game in April 2024 when Wolves visited the Emirates Stadium but was an unused substitute. Last season, he featured in 10 games across Premier League 2, EFL Trophy and Premier League Cup.

Meanwhile, Tom Edozie, the younger brother of Southampton forward Sam Edozie, who is on the radar of Super Eagles head coach Eric Chelle, is among the U24 players retained by Wolves. Also, Wes Okoduwa, son of former Nigeria international Emmanuel Okoduwa, will enter the second year of his scholarship in July 2025.

In addition, Saheed Olagunju, who joined Wolves from Chelsea last summer, has also been retained as a youth player. Unfortunately, however, the club has decided not to retain academy teenager Testimony Igbinoghene and have released the player, who only made a solitary appearance in Premier League 2 during the season.