Startling details have emerged that Villarreal of Spain fast-rising whiz-kid, Samuel Chukwueze signed a contract with Arsenal of England four years ago, but could not eventually play for The Gunners due to work permit issues, footballlive.ng gathered.
Rather than Villarreal, Arsenal first signed Chukwueze, who later got a very late ceremony at Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) secretariat in Abuja for an official presentation of a bronze boot he won for scoring three goals at the 2015 FIFA U-17 World Cup in Chile.
The Gunners are again being linked with the 19-year-old, but they could have got him when he was only 17, and at a cheaper fee, as Chukwueze already had a deal signed with Arsenal right after his heroics at the 2015 Cadet Mundial, where he was part of the Golden Eaglets’ fifth title.
Few months after returning home with the gold medal, Arsenal moved for Chukwueze, who was also the tournament’s third highest scorer, but duplication of agents and eligibility rules scuttled the deal.
Despite getting an agreement with his youth team, Diamond Football Academy, Arsenal could not keep Chukwueze in England due to Home Office regulations over a United Kingdom work permit.
Dramatcially, while Chukwueze could now be on the move to Arsenal for €40m, as indicated by a buyout clause fixed in his current deal, Villarreal bought him for only €500,000 four years ago.
