Super Falcons striker Asisat Oshoala on Friday signed for Liverpool Ladies after a number of clubs had hoped to get her sign the dotted lines.
New Liverpool signing Asisat Oshoala is “one of the best young players in the world”, says Reds boss Matt Beard.
Oshoala won both the Golden Boot and Golden Ball – as Player of the Tournament at the Under-20 World Cup Finals. Oshoala becomes the first player from Africa to compete in the Women’s Super League.
“We beat a number of top American and European clubs to Asisat’s signature,” said Beard as he welcomed the 20-year-old striker.
“Asisat is one of the best young players in the world.”
In addition to her star performances at the U20 World Cup, Oshoala also collected the Golden Ball award as the senior Nigeria team qualified for the 2015 World Cup by winning the African Women’s Championship.
She was named 2014’s African Women’s Player of the Year and Youth Player of the Year after helping her club side Rivers Angels become Nigerian champions.
Beard added: “She’s not the finished article yet but she’s got pace, power and she certainly knows where the goal is.
“I watched her at the Under-20 World Cup, where she was sensational, and we had early dialogue with her about coming to Liverpool.
“There’s been plenty of other interest in her in the last few months, but she chose to join us and I’m absolutely delighted,” the manager concluded.
Oshoala, nicknamed ‘Seedorf’ after Dutch legend Clarence, spoke of her excitement signing for The Reds.
“To be able to join the reigning Super League champions is absolutely fantastic.
“Liverpool Ladies are a massive club with some fantastic players who I believe can help me to develop my game to the next level.”
Oshaola pointed to the glamour of the Champions League as key to her to move to the English side.
“It was also a big incentive to be able to play in the Women’s Champions League, which is a huge competition that I’m confident we can do well in,” the lanky forward stated.
Oshoala is Beard’s fourth signing of the window after he also added Satara Murray, Ingrid Ryland and Line Krogedal Smorsgard to his squad.
– Complete Sports
