Teenager Emmanuel Ahaneku becomes the latest Nigerian to sign for Arsenal's Hale Academy

NIGERIAN teenage prodigy Emmanuel  Ahaneku has signed a pre-scholarship deal with Arsenal's Hale End Academy from Coventry City making him the latest in a long list of Nigerians to join The Gunners schoolboy outfit.

Ahaneku, 14, was highly regarded at Coventry, where he trained with the club’s U18 squad this season. According to The Talent Hunter, he has signed a schoolboy deal with Arsenal and will be aiming to secure a scholarship contract with the North London club in the coming years.

He now joins fellow Nigerian midfielders Emerson Nwaneri and Mishel Nduka at Hale End, with the latter completing his move from Charlton Athletic Academy last month. Arsenal's famed youth academy has a strong connection with Nigerian football, having produced Nigeria internationals Alex Iwobi and Nathan Tella.

Former Nigeria Football Federation targets Bukayo Saka, Eberechi Eze and Michael Olise, as well as Super Eagles hopeful Chuba Akpom and former Golden Eaglets invitee Ovie Ejaria, were all products of the academy too. Other Hale End graduates of Nigerian descent who have featured for Arsenal's first team include Ethan Nwaneri, Folarin Balogun, Miguel Azeez and Josh Nichols.