Wrexham have been handed a major boost following confirmation that Arsenal have released goalkeeper Arthur Okonkwo following the expiry of his contract, as reported by journalist Fabrizio Romano.
The 22-year-old signed for Wrexham last summer on a season-long loan and quickly established himself as the number one following the retirement of goalkeeper Ben Foster.
How did he fair last season?
Okonkwo had a strong campaign last season for Wrexham, making 36 league appearances and keeping 14 clean sheets in the process, which is the equivalent of roughly one every 2.4 matches.
In terms of his in-depth statistics, Okonkwo also averaged three saves per 90 minutes as well as conceding just 0.8 goals in each of his 36 league matches.
He was also named in the official League Two Team of the Season by the EFL as well as making our Team of the Season and is now available on a free transfer.
Will Wrexham need to pay for him?
Usually, when a player under the age of 24 is released, their newest club would have to pay a compensation fee to sign them. However, this rule does not apply if the club releasing the player fails to offer him a new contract before he departs.
In the case of Okonkwo, it appears that Arsenal will not be offering him a new contract which means that Wrexham (or his next side) won’t have to pay a compensation fee to sign him, which is likely to increase the number of clubs trying to sign him this summer.
Is a permanent deal likely?
Wrexham need a first-choice goalkeeper heading into the League One season and Okonkwo is almost certain to be their number-one target following his impressive loan stint with the club.
There has been no official confirmation from Fabrizio Romano as to whether Wrexham have already begun talks to land Okonkwo or whether he’s an actual target, but a permanent deal would almost certainly be on the table with him being a free agent.