Ovie Ejeheri to get first experience of senior football on loan at Chelmsford City

Arsenal goalkeeper Ovie Ejeheri has headed out on loan for the first time by joining Chelmsford City until January.

The 19-year-old will hope to gain plenty of experience in the National League South.

Last season, after signing his first professional contract, Ejeheri made eleven appearances for the U23s/U21s, which included featuring in the Papa John’s Trophy. He also trained with the first-team and was the third choice goalkeeper for the game at home to Watford.

Arsenal have a host of goalkeepers on their books, so it makes sense for Ejeheri to go on loan.

There are five goalkeepers in the first-team squad – Aaron Ramsdale, Matt Turner, Bernd Leno, Arthur Okonkwo and Alex Runarsson.

Then, excluding Ejeheri, there are four more in the U21s – Karl Hein, James Hillson, Tom Smith and Hubert Graczyk.

In the U18s there are another four goalkeepers – second year scholar Alex Kovacevic plus first years Alexei Rojas, Brian Okonkwo and Coby Small.

3 comments

  1. Jeorge, what’s you view on the number of goalkeepers that we have on our books, is it a definitive policy by the academy or has it just happened by coincidence?

    Is it a good thing in your view, because I can’t see how a goalkeeper can develop if he doesn’t play and at any one time we seem to have a lot of inactive goalkeepers.

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