Omotara Junaid, one of Arsenal’s brightest young talents, has decided to leave the club with a year remaining on her contract, according to an exclusive report by The Gooner Fanzine.
The England U17 international has opted to seek better development opportunities elsewhere, citing dissatisfaction with Arsenal’s youth development plan.
Her father, OJ, explained the reasoning behind her decision: “The reason why she left was not because she is frustrated for not having first team opportunities. It was because at the back of a very successful year of Euros and World Cup, Arsenal presented a very poor development plan compared to other clubs for the England U17 starters.
“She shared how this dev plan will not help her grow her game, and there seem to be no further development plan, which is so disappointing for a young vibrant player like Omotara. So, she decided to leave early to seek a better development opportunity somewhere else.”
Junaid’s departure comes just months after she was appointed captain of the Arsenal Women U21 team for the 2024-2025 season, a move that underscored her immense potential and leadership qualities.
At just 16 years old at the time, she was already regarded as one of the brightest prospects in Arsenal’s youth system. Her rapid rise included a two-year contract extension before the season and a promotion to the U21 squad. She had also been invited to train with Arsenal’s first team and was registered for the UEFA Women’s Champions League earlier this year.
Despite these milestones, Junaid has decided to cut ties with the club, signalling her frustration with what she viewed as a lack of long-term development planning. Her decision marks a significant loss for Arsenal, especially given her standout performances for the U16s, where she helped secure an undefeated season and a league title while finishing as the second-highest goalscorer.
Junaid has represented England at the U17 level and remains eligible for Nigeria’s Super Falcons, making her a highly sought-after talent.
Her decision to leave raises critical questions about Arsenal’s ability to retain and nurture emerging stars. For now, Junaid’s next destination remains unclear, but her departure underscores the importance of robust development pathways in ensuring the future success of promising players.
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