Okonkwo Excited About Joining Charlton

Super Eagles goalkeeper Arthur Okonkwo is excited after joining Charlton Athletic on loan for a season. He said working under manager Nathan Jones influenced his choice to turn down Bolton Wanderers.

The six-foot-six goalkeeper joined Charlton from Wrexham as the club's eighth signing this summer. He chose Charlton over Bolton, a club linked with Nigerian legend Jay-Jay Okocha. This move gives Jones more options in goal as the Championship season approaches.

"I’m happy to be here, and I’m ready to go. Coming here, it’s another season where I really want to do well and improve again," Okonkwo said after the transfer. He mentioned that his new teammates welcomed him warmly.

"Speaking to the manager, that’s what he wants me to do here, not only to do well, but to improve as a goalkeeper," he added.

Jones shared his happiness about signing Okonkwo. He had watched him play well last season.

"We know how good a goalkeeper he is. He made two world-class saves against us last season, one in each game we played against Wrexham," the Charlton boss said.

Okonkwo was born in Camden and grew up in the Arsenal academy. He had loan spells at Crewe Alexandra and Sturm Graz in Austria, where he won the Austrian Cup. He later moved to Wrexham, starting as a loan player before the deal became permanent in June 2024.

He played an important part in Wrexham's back-to-back promotions, helping the club finish second in the 2024/25 season. This summer, he earned his first two Super Eagles caps during Nigeria’s Unity Cup win at The Valley, the same stadium where he will now play as a Charlton player.