Arthur Okonkwo
|
File:Arthur Okonkwo 26102024 (1).jpg Okonkwo post–game for Wrexham in 2024 | |||
| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Full name | Arthur Chukwuezugo Okonkwo[1] | ||
| Date of birth | 9 September 2001[2] | ||
| Place of birth | Camden, England[3] | ||
| Height | 1.99 m (6 ft 6 in)[4] | ||
| Position | Goalkeeper | ||
| Team information | |||
Current team | Wrexham | ||
| Number | 1 | ||
| Youth career | |||
| Hampstead Academy | |||
| –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) | 36 | (0) |
| 2024– | Wrexham | 52 | (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 as of 22:10, 19 December 2025 (UTC) | |||
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Arthur Chukwuezugo Okonkwo (born 9 September 2001) is an English professional footballer who plays as a goalkeeper for EFL Championship club Wrexham.
Early life
[edit | edit source]Born in London to Igbo Nigerian parents, Okonkwo began his career at Hampstead Academy before moving on to Lindus Park,[5] where he joined the Arsenal academy as an eight-year-old in 2009.
Club career
[edit | edit source]Arsenal
[edit | edit source]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.[6] He also debuted for the under-23 Arsenal side as a 17-year-old.[7] 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.[8]
Okonkwo played in Arsenal under-21s' 2–1 victory in the EFL Trophy at Crawley Town on 30 October 2020,[9] and in a 1–1 draw at Plymouth Argyle in the same competition on 2 November 2021.[10]
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.[11][12]
Okonkwo left Arsenal on 30 June 2024 at the expiration of his contract with the club.[13]
Crewe Alexandra (loan)
[edit | edit source]
Okonkwo joined EFL League Two side Crewe Alexandra on a season-long loan on 29 July 2022.[14] 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.[15] Okonkwo duly made his Crewe and professional league debut in a 2–1 win at Spotland on 30 July 2022,[16] then kept a clean sheet on his home debut in a 3–0 win over Harrogate Town at Gresty Road on 6 August 2022.[17] After 26 appearances and ten clean sheets for Crewe, Okonkwo was recalled by Arsenal in mid-January 2023.[18]
Sturm Graz (loan)
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On 16 January 2023, Okonkwo joined Austrian Bundesliga side Sturm Graz on loan until the end of the season.[19] 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.[20]
Wrexham (loan)
[edit | edit source]On 1 September 2023, he joined Wrexham on a season-long loan following Ben Foster's retirement.[21] Okonkwo made his debut for the club in a fixture versus Newcastle U21 on 5 September 2023, with Wrexham pulling away as 1–0 victors[22] He later made his league debut for the club on 30 September 2023, at home against former club Crewe Alexandra, in a 3–3 draw.[23] 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.[24] In January 2024, Wrexham confirmed that Okonkwo would remain on loan at the club until the end of the season.[25] During his season at Wrexham he made 40 appearances in all competitions and had 16 clean sheets.[26][27]
Return to Wrexham
[edit | edit source]On 22 June 2024, it was announced that Okonkwo had once again signed for Wrexham as a free agent on a three-year deal.[28]
International career
[edit | edit source]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.[7][29]
Style of play
[edit | edit source]An Arsenal academy graduate, Okonkwo has stated that Petr Cech and David De Gea influence his own goalkeeping style.[30][5] 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
[edit | edit source]Okonkwo has a younger brother, Brian, who plays as a goalkeeper in West Bromwich Albion's academy, after departing Arsenal's academy.[31][32]
Career statistics
[edit | edit source]- As of match played 19 December 2025
| Club | Season | Division | League | National cup[a] | League Cup | Other | Total | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | |||
| Arsenal U21 | 2020–21[9] | — | — | — | — | 1[b] | 0 | 1 | 0 | |||
| 2021–22[10] | — | — | — | — | 1[b] | 0 | 1 | 0 | ||||
| Total | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 0 | ||
| Crewe Alexandra (loan) | 2022–23[33] | League Two | 23 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 26 | 0 |
| Sturm Graz (loan) | 2022–23[33] | Austrian Bundesliga | 15 | 0 | 1 | 0 | — | — | 16 | 0 | ||
| Wrexham (loan) | 2023–24[34] | League Two | 36 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1[b] | 0 | 40 | 0 |
| Wrexham | 2024–25[35] | League One | 33 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3[b] | 0 | 37 | 0 |
| 2025–26[36] | Championship | 19 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | — | 21 | 0 | ||
| Total | 52 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 58 | 0 | ||
| Career total | 126 | 0 | 7 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 6 | 0 | 142 | 0 | ||
- ^ Includes FA Cup, Austrian Cup
- ^ a b c d Appearances in EFL Trophy
Honours
[edit | edit source]Sturm Graz
Wrexham
- EFL League Two runner-up: 2023–24[37]
- EFL League One runner-up: 2024–25
Individual
- EFL League Two Team of the Season: 2023–24[38]
- Fans’ League One Player of the Month award for March 2025[39]
References
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External links
[edit | edit source]
- Profile at Wrexham A.F.C. website
- Arthur Okonkwo at Premier League (archived)Lua error in Module:EditAtWikidata at line 29: attempt to index field 'wikibase' (a nil value).
- Arthur Okonkwo at SoccerwayLua error in Module:EditAtWikidata at line 29: attempt to index field 'wikibase' (a nil value).
- Arthur Okonkwo at SoccerbaseLua error in Module:WikidataCheck at line 29: attempt to index field 'wikibase' (a nil value).
- Living people
- 2001 births
- English people of Nigerian descent
- 21st-century English sportsmen
- Black British sportsmen
- 21st-century Black British people
- Sportspeople of Nigerian descent
- English men's footballers
- Footballers from London
- Men's association football goalkeepers
- England men's youth international footballers
- English Football League players
- Austrian Football Bundesliga players
- Arsenal F.C. players
- Crewe Alexandra F.C. players
- SK Sturm Graz players
- Wrexham A.F.C. players
- English expatriate men's footballers
- English expatriate sportspeople in Austria
- Expatriate men's footballers in Austria