Announcement imminent : Nigerian midfielder ends 14-year association with Arsenal

Allnigeriasoccer.com can confirm that Nigerian midfielder James Olayinka will end his fourteen-year association with Premier League club Arsenal in the coming hours after agreeing a permanent transfer to a Football League club.

Cheltenham Town and Arsenal have reached a club-to-club agreement for the transfer of the Hale End Academy graduate and the deal is expected to go through before the close of the summer transfer window.

Olayinka joined Arsenal at the age of seven, rising through the academy ranks before earning promotion to the development squad.

The 21-year-old was tipped to break into the first team of the Gunners after starring in pre-season ahead of the 2019-2020 campaign but a spate of injuries have hampered his development.

He received only two call-ups for first team games during his time at the Emirates Stadium - against Standard Liege in the Europa League (December 2019) and Liverpool in the Community Shield (August 2020).

Olayinka has the experience of playing in the Football League, making twenty-one appearances combined for Southend United and Northampton Town.

The versatile midfielder has been arguably the standout performer for Arsenal U21s in the new season with a goal involvement of six (2 goals, 4 assists) in four Premier League 2 matches.

Ifeanyi Emmanuel

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