Arsenal negotiated recall option in loan deal taking Nigeria-eligible midfielder to League One club

Published: September 09, 2021

Premier League club Arsenal negotiated a recall option in the loan deal that took Nigeria-eligible midfielder Miguel Azeez to League One club Portsmouth last month.

As first reported by Hampshire Live, the Gunners could recall the newly-capped England U20 international from his loan spell at Fratton Park in January 2022.

Manager Mikel Arteta will be short of options in central midfield in the next four months with Egypt international Mohamed Elneny and Ghana star Thomas Partey set to represent their countries in the 2021 Africa Cup of Nations.

It is one of the reasons that Arsenal vetoed the departure of Ainsley Maitland-Niles to Everton in the recently concluded summer transfer window.

Nigerian central midfielders Tim Akinola and James Olayinka, who predominantly represent the Gunners development squad, trained with the first team this week.

Azeez is on the fringes of the first team of the north London club and has been farmed out on loan to get a taste of first team football before returning to his parent club.

The 18-year-old could make his debut for Portsmouth in their upcoming league match against Milton Keynes Dons.

Ifeanyi Emmanuel

Photo Credit : arsenal.com

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