NIGERIAN BILLIONAIRE Orji Kalu has declared his intention to buy a huge 35 per cent stake in Arsenal.
The Gunners have fallen behind Manchester City, Chelsea and Liverpool in financial terms since their Premier League heyday in the early 2000s.
The club have however enjoyed a vast following in Nigeria since Nwankwo Kanu joined them in 1999, with Alex Iwobi, Chuba Akpom and Bukayo Saka going on to play at the Emirates.
Now Kalu, a senator, businessman and newspaper owner with an estimated fortune of £760 million, has now said he wants to make a major investment in the North London giants to help ‘bring back trophies’.
And it will not be his first foray into the beautiful game.
Kalu previously backed Nigerian club Enyimba FC, helping them dominate the local football scene.
The 60-year-old, worth $1bn, announced: “Our success with Enyimba FC between 2000-07 has continuously increased my passion for football.
“As the pillar of sports in Africa, I am considering an investment in football and I will buy 35 per cent stake in Arsenal FC.
“Our target is to lift the Champions League and EPL, and valuable investment as well.
“Doing what you love and loving it is where greatness lies. I need 35 per cent of Arsenal to bring back trophies.”
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Kalu received a 12-year jail term for fraud last December, but was freed on appeal in May.
Now he wants to forge a partnership between Arsenal and Aba-based Enyimba.
He added: “With Arsenal we will make Enyimba great again with the strategic partnership we are packaging.
“We shall turn it around to create a platform for more of our professional players seeking international exposure.
“A win-win outing for all parties.”
Kalu’s compatriot Aliko Dangote, Africa’s wealthiest man, has previously declared his ambition to take over Arsenal in its entirety.
