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Super Eagles head coach Eric Chelle has given Roberto De Zerbi a clear picture of the qualities Tochukwu Nnadi is expected to bring to Olympique de Marseille following the midfielder’s recent move from Belgian club Zulte Waregem, footynaija.com reports.
The 22-year-old arrives in Ligue 1 without the reputation of a marquee signing, having built his early European career in Bulgaria with Botev Plovdiv before stepping up in Belgium. His senior international experience is also limited, with just two appearances for Nigeria: one coming at the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations in Morocco and the other in a friendly against Egypt ahead of the tournament.
Super Eagle Tochukwu Nnadi joins Marseille 🇳🇬 pic.twitter.com/mKSJfZjqZl
— Ligue 1 English (@Ligue1_ENG) February 2, 2026
However, those who have followed his progress insist his potential far outweighs his modest résumé. Nnadi’s rise began to attract wider attention during the 2023 FIFA U-20 World Cup, where he featured in every match as Nigeria reached the quarter-finals. His tireless running, sharp ball recovery and tactical discipline stood out in memorable wins over Italy and Argentina.
Nigeria head coach Eric Chelle, who handed the midfielder his Super Eagles debut, believes Marseille have signed a rare type of player capable of reshaping their midfield balance.
“He’s a player who plays a simple game, very aggressive on the ball carrier,” Chelle said on RMC Sports.
Recruited from Zulte-Waregem, the 22-year-old stands out primarily for his off-the-ball activity and defensive impact, according to his coach.
“He’s a player who plays simply; his strength is his ability to harass the ball carrier over 15-20 meters. He’s capable of winning the ball back from opponents’ feet. He’s not someone who will cut off passing lanes; he’s very aggressive,” Chelle said of his young midfielder.
From Ihiagwa to the south of France, Tochukwu “Obere” Nnadi’s story isn’t about shortcuts, it’s about movement, risk, and refusal to stall.
— Your Favorite Black Boy (@emmanuel_emrex) February 5, 2026
Born on 30 June 2003 in Owerri West, Nnadi started out like many kids boots, ball, and open space at Campos FC. But in 2019, he made pic.twitter.com/ynFf6VN4aK
Chelle also stressed that Marseille currently lack such a profile in their squad, adding: “There isn’t this type of player at OM today; he’s not a player who will dictate the tempo of the match. Nnadi will bring that aggression to the midfield. An atypical profile at 1.76m, which will offer a range of options in the Marseille squad.”
Nnadi was included in the squad for last weekend’s heavy defeat to Paris Saint-Germain but is still waiting to make his debut, with Saturday’s home clash against Strasbourg offering a fresh opportunity to showcase his energy and intensity at the Vélodrome.
