Wrexham struck gold when agreeing to sign Arsenal goalkeeper Arthur Okonkwo on loan last season, following the unexpected departure of Ben Foster.
The veteran goalkeeper decided just five games into the League Two season that he was no longer at the required level and announced his retirement, leading to Wrexham co-owner Ryan Reynolds calling him 'generous' due to making the call while the summer transfer window was still open. Wrexham opted to give a young goalkeeper a chance, and set their sights on 22-year-old Okonkwo.
The youngster had never made a competitive appearance for Arsenal, but had impressed during loan spells at Crewe Alexandra and Austrian side Sturm Graz. He impressed co-owner Rob McElhenney so much that he provided a Michael Jordan analogy when explaining the deal to their American fanbase.
The loan system isn't a factor when it comes to American sports, with prospects either being thrown straight into the senior squad or lent to a partnered minor league team to develop, rather than potentially benefiting a direct rival. McElhenney explained this by comparing Okonkwo to one of the best NBA players of all time, showcasing just how highly he rates the goalkeeper.
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"He's a Premier League level keeper who just happens to be young and doesn't have a place on the Arsenal squad yet," McElhenney explained on the latest episode of Welcome to Wrexham. "It would be as if it's 1985 and the Chicago Bulls drafted Michael Jordan and they are like 'Well you're a 20-year-old kid'.
"Then the Philadelphia 76ers were like 'Hey, guess what Chicago? We will just take him off your hands for like two or three years and then we'll just build him up because he can start with us and we can send him back to you'.
"Then he comes to Philly, wins like three championships and they're like 'Great, we're gonna start a dynasty' but then Chicago are like 'F--- off we're taking him back'. That's exactly what it is!"
Okonkwo kept 14 clean sheets for Wrexham in League Two last season. (PAUL ELLIS/AFP via Getty Images)Okonkwo played 36 games for Wrexham in League Two last season, keeping 14 clean sheets and conceding just 28 goals in that time. He was ranked in the top five percent for shots saved, goals conceded, and clean sheets kept in League Two, during a breakthrough season with the spotlight firmly on him from around the world.
His deal with Arsenal is set to expire this summer, with the club initially planning to release him with the likes of David Raya, Aaron Ramsdale, and Karl Hein ahead of him in the pecking order. That means that Wrexham could be in a position to sign Okonkwo on a permanent basis, but the goalkeeper hasn't made any assurances he will return to the club.
"I haven’t looked too much into things at the moment," said Okonkwo, via The Athletic. "But I will, very soon. It is about looking at all my opportunities and seeing which is the best for me. I’ve loved it at Wrexham and they will stay in my heart forever."
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