Arthur Okonkwo Biography and Profile

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

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

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.

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

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.

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

Okonkwo joined EFL League Two side Crewe Alexandra on a season-long loan on 29 July 2022. 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. Okonkwo duly made his Crewe and professional league debut in a 2–1 win at Spotland on 30 July 2022, then kept a clean sheet on his home debut in a 3–0 win over Harrogate Town at Gresty Road on 6 August 2022. After 26 appearances and ten clean sheets for Crewe, Okonkwo was recalled by Arsenal in mid-January 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.

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. In January 2024, Wrexham confirmed that Okonkwo would remain on loan at the club until the end of the season. During his season at Wrexham he made 40 appearances in all competitions and had 16 clean sheets.

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

Okonkwo represented England at under-16 and under-17 levels, then debuted for the under-18s two days before his birthday. He remains eligible for Nigeria through his ancestry.

An Arsenal academy graduate, Okonkwo has stated that Petr Cech and David De Gea influence his own goalkeeping style. 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”.