Super Eagles head coach Eric Chelle could not hide his delight after meeting midfielder Tochukwu Nnadi following his headline making transfer to French Ligue 1 giants Olympique Marseille.

Nnadi recently sealed a big move from Belgian side Zulte Waregem to Marseille, marking a major step forward in his career. 

The 22 year old defensive midfielder only made his Super Eagles debut last month in a friendly clash against Egypt in Cairo and was also part of Nigeria’s squad at the 2025 AFCON.

Chelle, speaking to L’Equipe, admitted he had long believed the midfielder had outgrown his former club and was destined for a bigger stage. 

“I watched him and wondered what he was still doing in that team,” Super Eagles coach Eric Chelle told L’Equipe. “It’s a good move by OM. I expected him to go to the Premier League.”

The national team coach went further to praise Nnadi’s mentality and immediate impact in camp, highlighting how quickly he won over teammates and staff.

 “He’s determined, doesn’t overthink things. When he arrived at his first training session, he impressed everyone and came on against Egypt (in a friendly) with a full session under his belt. He’s a real gem, this kid; you’ll be surprised because he can be very aggressive on the pitch,” he remarked.

Chelle also emphasized the midfielder’s physical strength, speed, and ball-winning ability, while noting that the right environment will accelerate his development. 

“He’s very quick, powerful, and capable of winning back possession from opponents, with that aggressive approach over about fifteen meters to chase down the ball carrier. With the ball, he plays a simple game, using his body to protect it. If he’s in an environment where the players support him and give him confidence, he’ll quickly reach his full potential.”