Photo of Ian MacNicol /.
When Armstrong Okoflex turned down the opportunity to stay at Arsenal in favor of a trade to Celtic in 2018, it was assumed that the highly-skilled winger had been offered the opportunity to play first-team soccer north of the border.
Why else would he have turned his back on a club he joined five years earlier, turning Chelsea down in favor of Arsenal’s red and white?
And it’s not that the Gunners, Okoflex’s father’s childhood club, didn’t want it either.
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The North London giants had offered Okoflex a scholarship contract and were disappointed to learn that he would not be writing on paper after all.
Fast forward to June 2021 and with the 19-year-old winger lowering the curtain on his forgettable spell in Scotland, Okoflex could be forgiven for wondering why he decided to entrust Celtic with his development in the first place.
West Ham offers Celtic star Okoflex a route back to London
The Republic of Ireland U19 international played just 39 minutes of Premiership football in green and white as Neil Lennon’s reluctance to give the youngsters a chance left fans, and more than a few players, increasingly frustrated.
Photo of Ian MacNicol /.
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Teammate Liam Morrison left Celtic for Bayern Munich during Lennon’s second period at Parkhead, while the exciting Cameron Harper seized the opportunity to join the New York Red Bulls in March.
The reaction to Okoflex’s departure, then, was one of tired resignation among many Celtic fans.
All Nigeria Soccer reports that Okoflex has agreed to join West Ham United on a two-year contract.
David Moyes’ Hammers are believed to have faced competition from Newcastle United and Crystal Palace for the signing of the speedy forward.
And the loss of Celtic can turn into a win for West Ham. At least that’s the fear amongst fans in the green half of Glasgow.
Here’s what some Celtic fans had to say on Twitter about the news:
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everyone here beating him is delusional… we’re just letting another suitable talent go for next to nothing… ???????? all he needed was playtime
– Organic AB ???? (@ABlaFlare) June 23, 2021
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Ralston gets a new deal, a guy who is clearly a future talent, released with a pung player in the right mind, would come to us when there was no path to the first team, more so when the National League was in charge.
– ☘️Podrick☘️ (@ TheRealSlimTim7) June 23, 2021
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He hasn’t even been giving a chance man hombre️????
– ????JohnBhoy???? (@ JohnOHa25040471) June 23, 2021
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Another young talent unloaded while we are left with the scum that no one else wants. Shocking
– the ears wholesale (@AirbusLupum) 23 June 2021
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And so it goes on. Remember the definition of insanity
– Martin W (@ mwillmott68) June 23, 2021
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We are only letting good talent stop what is happening
– thomas???? (@thomascfc_) June 23, 2021
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Lenny didn’t play with him. It costed us.
– Pashtun Bhoy ???? (@benn_bin_mo) June 23, 2021
Mark Runnacles / .
In other news, Jenas issues a 3 word response to Kevin de Bruyne’s question joining Tottenham
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