League One side Barnsley FC have confirmed that Nigerian midfielder Kelechi Nwakali will remain at the club beyond the 2025/26 campaign.
The decision was announced on Sunday as part of the club’s retained and released list, which outlined several squad changes, including the activation of contract options for selected players.
Nwakali’s future at Oakwell had been uncertain over the past year following a difficult spell that saw him fall out of favour under former manager Conor Hourihane.
The midfielder made 26 appearances during his debut season but struggled for consistent game time thereafter.
The 27-year-old, who won the Golden Ball at the 2015 FIFA U-17 World Cup, had been widely expected to leave the club in previous transfer windows after reports suggested he was surplus to requirements.
However, no move materialised.
He subsequently featured for the club’s development squad to maintain fitness before making a late return to first-team action towards the end of the season, registering four substitute appearances totaling 52 minutes.
Nwakali’s time at Barnsley has also been affected by disciplinary issues, including reports of internal concerns earlier in the campaign and a red card during a development squad fixture against Birmingham City’s academy side following an on-field altercation.
Despite these challenges, Barnsley have opted to retain the midfielder as part of their plans for the upcoming 2026/27 season.
