Will Kelechi Iheanacho Ever Fulfil his Immense Potential
It wasn’t too long ago that Kelechi Iheanacho was coming up through the ranks at Manchester City, after joining the academy at the English giants in 2014. He started plying his trade in the Citizens’ first team in 2015 and made 46 appearances before moving to Leicester City in 2015.
Despite being one of the most promising prospects in English football when he first burst onto the scene, the Nigerian has thus far failed to live up to his potential. Is there a chance that he will ever become the world-class player that some thought he would be?
Will Another Stint in the Championship Help Iheanacho?
Even though he got off to a promising start and registered 12 league goals as an impact sub at Manchester City, Iheanacho’s career trajectory has been in decline over the last few seasons. After being deemed surplus to requirements at Leicester, he was allowed to leave for Sevilla on a free transfer ahead of the 2024 season.
However, he failed to make an impact for the Spanish club after nine showings, and was loaned out to Middlesbrough in February this year. Now, he has the chance to build up some form and show his past clubs that they made a mistake in parting ways with the two-time Most Promising African Talent winner.
Middlesbrough are desperate to get back into the Premier League, and the acquisition of Iheanacho is quite a statement. If they manage to reinvigorate the player who notched 35 goals for the Foxes, he could help them massively with their promotion push. According to the latest odds from betting sites in Nigeria, there is a promising chance the Boro could make it into the Championship playoffs this term.
Will He Still Be a Key Player for Nigeria?
Since breaking through at City in 2015, Iheanacho has been a regular player for Nigeria. He has racked up 15 goals for his country across 57 appearances and has been a vital component in the Super Eagles attack. However, over the last few years he has fallen out of favor, and this has coincided with his lack of game time for his clubs.
Nigeria’s hopes of qualifying for the World Cup in 2026 are dwindling, and they need their best players to be fit and firing for them. Everyone in Nigeria will be hoping that Iheanacho can rekindle his form and lead the line for the country once again, as it’s clear that they need different options up front.
Luckily, Iheanacho is only 28 years old, so he has a lot of time to get his mojo back and make a name for himself as one of the best in the business. He’ll need this Middlesbrough stint to go well, though. If he can help them reach the playoffs, he could establish himself as a club regular and may be in line for a permanent transfer in the summer.
There are plenty of players that have never quite reached their potential over the years. Hopefully, Iheanacho won’t be added to that list.
