SHREWSBURY, ENGLAND - JANUARY 07: Wrexham manager Phil Parkinson looks on during the Emirates FA Cup Third Round match between Shrewsbury Town and Wrexham at Croud Meadow on January 07, 2024 in Shrewsbury, England. (Photo by Malcolm Couzens/Getty Images)
Wrexham AFC Sign Former Premier League Goalkeeper
Wrexham AFC has announced that they have resigned Goalkeeper Arthur Okonkwo on a permanent deal after being released from Arsenal, on an initial three-year contract.
The 22-year-old goalkeeper, spent last season on loan with Wrexham as the club won promotion from League One for the first time of asking as well as being named in the League Two Team of The Season and became the club’s first signing of the Summer window.
“I’m feeling very good, I’m so happy to have finally signed and I can’t wait to get back to it.
“It was amazing last season. We had so many good memories together with the fans, and knowing they wanted me back was a big reason that I’m back. It’s good to finally be here.
“This is home, it’s felt like that since last season when I came in. The co-chairmen are so good, the manager, the coaches, the players, and obviously the backroom staff that you don’t see. It’s so good to be here.”
Who is Arthur Okonkwo?
Arthur a product of the Arsenal academy had his first taste of senior football out on loan with Crewe Alexandra for the first six months of the 22/23 season after making 26 appearances, keeping 14 clean sheets in the process he returned to Arsenal.
For the second half of the 22/23 season, the goalkeeper headed to the Austrian Premier League joining Sturm Graz where he played 18 times and kept six clean sheets.
On the deadline day of the 23/24 season, the England U18 International joined Wrexham on a season-long loan deal in what proved extremely successful, playing a total of 40 games in all competitions keeping 16 clean sheets and earning him a place in the League Two Team Of The Season.
A Statement from Wrexham?
This is a real coup for Wrexham, Arthur would have been extremely sought after this summer. The goalkeeper is an excellent shot-stopper preventing 9.50 goals last season and having a save percentage of 78.1%, from 138 shots faced in League Two last season.
With Wrexham also having a more direct play style, the goalkeeper was in the 78% percentile for total accurate long balls for Goalkeepers last season. This will be a benefit to the squad and the defence, having a goalkeeper who they know firstly is very strong with his feet as well as being solid at coming for crosses and corners taking pressure off his defence with a total of 49 high claims last season ranking him in the 94% percentile for goalkeepers in League Two last season.
