Arthur Okonkwo

Arthur Okonkwo

Okonkwo playing for Sturm Graz in 2023
Personal information
Full name	Arthur Chukwuezugo Okonkwo [1]
Date of birth	(2001-09-09) 9 September 2001 (age 22) [2]
Place of birth	London, England
Height	1.99 m (6 ft 6 in) [3]
Position(s)	Goalkeeper
Team information
Current team	Wrexham
Number	1
Youth career
	Hampstead Academy
0000–2009	Lindus Park
2009–2021	Arsenal
Senior career*
Years	Team	Apps	(Gls)
2021–2024	Arsenal	0	(0)
2022–2023	→ Crewe Alexandra (loan)	23	(0)
2023	→ Sturm Graz (loan)	15	(0)
2023–2024	→ Wrexham (loan)	35	(0)
2024–	Wrexham	1	(0)
International career
2016–2017	England U16	2	(0)
2017–2018	England U17	3	(0)
2018–2019	England U18	5	(0)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 09:01, 12 July 2024 (AEST)

Arthur Chukwuezugo Okonkwo (born 9 September 2001) is an English professional football player who plays as a goalkeeper for EFL League One club Wrexham.

Early life

Born in London to Nigerian parents, Okonkwo began his career at Hampstead Academy before moving on to Lindus Park, ^[4] where he joined the Arsenal academy as an eight-year-old in 2009.

Club career

Arsenal

Okonkwo came through the Arsenal ranks quickly, starring on the bench for an under-18 Arsenal match, while being registered as a player for the under-15 team. ^[5] He also debuted for the under-23 Arsenal side as a 17-year-old. ^[6] By the 2018–19 season, Okonkwo came runners-up in the U18 Premier League, and was already appearing as a bench goalkeeper for the first team, and going into the 2019–20 campaign, he would be 3rd in line for goalkeeping duties. Okonkwo struggled with injury in the 2019–20 campaign, failing to register a single appearance for any of the Arsenal teams. Okonkwo's double save in the Premier League 2, against Brighton was a contender for the best save of the 2020–21 season. ^[7]

Okonkwo played in Arsenal under-21s' 2–1 victory in the EFL Trophy at Crawley Town on 30 October 2020, ^[8] and in a 1–1 draw at Plymouth Argyle in the same competition on 2 November 2021. ^[9]

He signed a senior contract with Arsenal in early July 2021, donning the number 33 for the first team. Okonkwo made his senior team debut on 13 July 2021, against Hibernian in a friendly, misjudging a back pass from Arsenal teammate Cedric Soares, to grant Martin Boyle a tap-in, in a 2–1 loss to Hibernian. ^{[10] [11]}

Okonkwo left Arsenal on 30 June 2024 at the expiration of his contract with the club. ^[12]

Crewe Alexandra (loan)

Okonkwo in Crewe Alexandra kit at Wimbledon in 2022

Okonkwo joined EFL League Two side Crewe Alexandra on a season-long loan on 29 July 2022. ^[13] He was signed in time to be eligible for Crewe's season-opening game at Rochdale; Crewe's first-choice goalkeeper, Dave Richards, had suffered a finger injury and required an operation. ^[14] Okonkwo duly made his Crewe and professional league debut in a 2–1 win at Spotland on 30 July 2022, ^[15] then kept a clean sheet on his home debut in a 3–0 win over Harrogate Town at Gresty Road on 6 August 2022. ^[16] After 26 appearances and ten clean sheets for Crewe, Okonkwo was recalled by Arsenal in mid-January 2023. ^[17]

Sturm Graz (loan)

Okonkwo with Sturm Graz in 2023

On 16 January 2023, Okonkwo joined Austrian Bundesliga side Sturm Graz on loan until the end of the season. ^[18] He made his Sturm Graz debut against Rapid Vienna on 10 February 2023. Okonkwo played in the Austrian Cup final on 30 April, with Sturm Graz beating SK Rapid Wien 2–0. ^[19]

Wrexham (loan)

On 1 September 2023, he joined Wrexham on a season-long loan following Ben Foster's retirement. ^[20] In December 2023, he returned to parent club Arsenal for minor surgery after suffering a jaw injury in a 2–2 draw at Harrogate Town on 28 November. ^[21] In January 2024, Wrexham confirmed that Okonkwo would remain on loan at the club until the end of the season. ^[22] During his season at Wrexham he made 40 appearances in all competitions and had 16 clean sheets. ^{[23] [24]}

Return to Wrexham

On 22 June 2024, it was announced that Okonkwo had once again signed for Wrexham as a free agent on a 3-year deal. ^[25]

International career

Okonkwo represented England at under-16 and under-17 levels, then debuted for the under-18s two days before his birthday. ^[2] He remains eligible for Nigeria through his ancestry. ^{[6] [26]}

Style of play

An Arsenal academy graduate, Okonkwo has stated that Petr Cech and David De Gea influence his own goalkeeping style. ^{[27] [4]} Okonkwo said this on him playing as a goalkeeper: "I tried playing outfield but it wasn’t for me. I enjoyed the thrill of making saves – the more spectacular the better".

Personal life

Okonkwo has a younger brother, Brian, who also plays as a goalkeeper in Arsenal's academy. ^[28]

Career statistics

As of match played 20 April 2024

Club	Season	Division	League		National cup [lower-alpha 1]		League Cup		Other		Total
			Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals
Arsenal U21	2020–21 [8]	—	0	0	0	0	0	0	1 [lower-alpha 2]	0	1	0
	2021–22 [9]	—	0	0	0	0	0	0	1 [lower-alpha 2]	0	1	0
	Total		0	0	0	0	0	0	2	0	2	0
Crewe Alexandra (loan)	2022–23 [29]	League Two	23	0	2	0	1	0	0	0	26	0
SK Sturm Graz (loan)	2022–23 [29]	Bundesliga	15	0	1	0	—		—		16	0
Wrexham (loan)	2023–24 [30]	League Two	35	0	3	0	0	0	1 [lower-alpha 2]	0	39	0
Wrexham	2024-25	League One	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
	Total		35	0	3	0	0	0	1	0	39	0
Career total			72	0	6	0	1	0	3	0	83	0

1. Includes FA Cup, Austrian Cup
2. Appearances in EFL Trophy

Honours

Sturm Graz

• Austrian Cup: 2022–23 ^[19]

Wrexham

• EFL League Two runner-up: 2023–24 ^[31]

Individual

• EFL League Two Team of the Season: 2023–24 ^[32]

References

1. "Røk ut etter straffedrama" [Quit after crime drama] (in Norwegian). Supporterklubben. 31 March 2018. Retrieved 17 September 2022.
2. "A. Okonkwo – Profile with news, career statistics". int.soccerway.com. Retrieved 31 July 2022.
3. "Arthur Okonkwo: "I Want To Be Crewe Number One" - News - Crewe Alexandra". Crewe Alexandra . 30 July 2022. Archived from the original on 28 February 2023. Retrieved 15 June 2024.
4. "Young Gun: Arthur Okonkwo". Young Gun: Arthur Okonkwo. Retrieved 9 July 2022.
5. "Who is Arthur Okonkwo? Youngster travels with Arsenal". 17 April 2019.
6. "Arthur Okonkwo". www.arsenal.com. Retrieved 9 July 2022.
7. "Arthur Okonkwo Arsenal Goalkeeper, Profile & Stats | Premier League". www.premierleague.com. Retrieved 10 July 2022.
8. "Arthur Okonkwo | Football Stats | Arsenal | Season 2020/2021 | Soccer Base". www.soccerbase.com. Retrieved 29 October 2022.
9. "Arthur Okonkwo | Football Stats | Arsenal | Season 2021/2022 | Soccer Base". www.soccerbase.com. Retrieved 29 October 2022.
10. "Hibernian vs. Arsenal – Football Match Report – July 13, 2021 – ESPN". ESPN.com. Retrieved 10 July 2022.
11. Collin, Iain. "Hibs show promising signs against strong Arsenal side". The Times . ISSN   0140-0460 . Retrieved 10 July 2022.
12. "22 players to depart Arsenal at end of contacts". Arsenal . 3 June 2024. Archived from the original on 3 June 2024. Retrieved 3 June 2024.
13. "Arthur Okonkwo: Crewe sign Arsenal goalkeeper on season-long loan". BBC Sport. 29 July 2022. Retrieved 30 July 2022.
14. "Dave Richards To Undergo Surgery On Finger Injury". CreweAlex.net. 1 August 2022. Retrieved 2 August 2022.
15. "Rochdale 1-2 Crewe Alexandra". BBC Sport. 30 July 2022. Retrieved 30 July 2022.
16. "Crewe Alexandra 3-0 Harrogate Town". BBC Sport. 6 August 2022. Retrieved 7 August 2022.
17. Baggaley, Michael (16 January 2023). "Arthur Okonkwo message to Crewe Alex as he leaves for Austria". Cheshire Live. Retrieved 16 January 2023.
18. "Arthur Okonkwo verstärkt das Tormann-Team". SK Sturm Graz (in Austrian German). 16 January 2023. Retrieved 16 January 2023.
19. "SK Rapid – SK Puntigamer Sturm Graz". oefb.at (in German). Retrieved 1 May 2023.
20. "Wrexham sign midfielder Evans and keeper Okonkwo". BBC Sport. 2 September 2023.
21. "Arthur Okonkwo: Wrexham's on-loan Arsenal goalkeeper to have surgery on jaw". BBC Sport. 5 December 2023. Retrieved 6 December 2023.
22. @AAllenSport (25 January 2024). "Wrexham confirm Okonkwo stay". Arseblog News - the Arsenal news site. Retrieved 25 January 2024.
23. "Arthur Okonkwo | Player Statistics | Wrexham (Wrexham AFC Archive)". www.wrexhamafcarchive.co.uk. Retrieved 3 June 2024.
24. "Goalkeepers & Clean Sheet Totals | Wrexham (Wrexham Archive)". www.wrexhamafcarchive.co.uk. Retrieved 3 June 2024.
25. "SIGNED Arthur Okonkwo signs permanent Wrexham AFC deal". WrexhamAFC. 22 June 2024.
26. Mahawi, Osas, ed. (21 September 2018). "Nigeria's Interest In Luring Arsenal Teen Goalkeeper Arthur Okonkwo From England Confirmed – OwnGoal Nigeria" . Retrieved 10 July 2022.
27. Yousif, Layth (25 April 2019). "Arsenal's highly-rated academy goalkeeper Arthur Okonkwo on life at the Emirates". Football.London. Retrieved 9 July 2022.
28. "GET TO KNOW Arthur Okonkwo". Wrexham AFC. 1 September 2023. Archived from the original on 30 November 2023. Retrieved 1 December 2023.
29. "Games played by Arthur Okonkwo in 2022/2023". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 31 July 2022.
30. "Games played by Arthur Okonkwo in 2023/2024". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 5 March 2024.
31. "END-OF-SEASON GALLERY | Relive the Red Dragons' memorable season".
32. "See who made the EFL Team of the Season line-ups". EFL. 14 April 2024. Retrieved 14 April 2024.