Summer Transfer Window: Nigerian Players On The Move

The summer transfer window may have come to a close in England and not in other parts of Europe, with some major signings from different clubs in Europe even till the last minute of the transfer deadline.

Key players among them are Alex Iwobi from Arsenal to Everton, Kenneth Omeruo from Chelsea to Leganes, Ola Aina from Chelsea to Torino, Victor Osimhen from Sporting Charleroi

Soccernet’s Augustine Akhilomen x-ray some of the Nigerian players that moved from one club to another either on a permanent or loan deal.

Alex Iwobi (Arsenal-Everton)

Super Eagles forward, Alex Iwobi made a dramatic deadline move from Arsenal to Everton on Thursday.

The deal is for a rumored $46 million, which is nice for Arsenal, and the Toffees will love the addition of another electric dribbler with pace to burn.

Iwobi had six goals and nine assists for the Gunners last season, and played in each of Nigeria’s seven matches at the Africa Cup of Nations. The Super Eagles veteran has 36 caps and six goals.

Mikel Obi (Middlesbrough-Trabzonspor)

Former Super Eagles captain and midfielder, Mikel Obi joined Turkish club Trabzonspor after ending his six-month loan spell with Middlesbrough in the England Championship.

The move to Turkey will see Mikel play in his fourth country having started out in Norway before he moved to England where he spent the better part of his career with London club, Chelsea. Mikel also had an uneventful spell in the Chinese Super League where he played for Tianjin Teda.

Kenneth Omeruo (Chelsea-Leganes)

After enjoying a brilliant display at the 2019 Africa Cup of Nations with the Super Eagles, Kenneth Omeruo finally completed a permanent move from parent club, Chelsea to Spanish league side, Leganes.

Leganes paid 4.5 million euros for the permanent signing of Omeruo in a five-year deal until the summer of 2024.

Victor Osimhen (Sporting Charleroi-Lille)

Super Eagles forward Victor Osimhen completed a mega move to French club Lille joining the Ligue 1 side from Belgian side Sporting Charleroi.

The 20-year-old has signed a 5-year contract with Les Dogues and replaces Rafael Leao in LOSC’s squad as the Portuguese is on his way to completing a €35m move to AC Milan.Last season, Victor Osimhen was impressive for the French club scoring 12 goals in 25 League appearances for Lille.

Kelechi Nwakali (Arsenal-Huesca)

Super Eagles midfielder,Kelechi Nwakali joined SD Huesca for the rest of the season after the Spanish Segunda Division side agreed on a deal with his parent club, Arsenal.

Nwakali captained Nigeria to the FIFA U-17 world cup victory in 2015 and was also named the most valuable player of the tournament.

Francis Uzoho (Deportivo-Omonia Nicosa)

After enduring fringe role last season, Super Eagles goalkeeper, Francis Uzoho is hoping for a positive return to Cyprus when he begins a loan spell with Omonia Nicosa from Spanish second division side, Deportivo La Coruna.

A lack of top-flight football cost him his place as Nigeria’s first-choice keeper ahead of the 2019 Africa Cup of Nations, becoming third choice behind Daniel Akpeyi and Ikechukwu Ezenwa.

Semi Ajayi (Rotterham-West Brom)

Semi Ajayi has joined English Championship side West Bromwich Albion from League One club Rotherham United.

In the 2018-19 season, Ajayi scored eight goals across all competitions for Rotherham and his impressive performance saw him win the Championship Player of the Month for March.

The 25-year-old was not part of the Super Eagles team that finished third in the 2019 Africa Cup of Nations in Egypt after he was dropped from the final 23-man squad.

Azubuike Okechukwu (Pyramids FC- Istanbul Basaksehir )

Azubuike Okechukwu has joined Turkish Super Lig side Istanbul Basaksehir on a season-long loan from Egyptian club Pyramids FC.

The 22-year-old spent the second part of the 2018/19 season with Caykur Rizespor on loan and made 14 league appearances, scoring once to help the Black Sea Sparrowhawk finish the season in 11th on the Super Lig table.

Ademola Lookman (Everton-RB Leipzig)

German Bundelsiga club RB Leipzig confirmed the capture of Ademola Lookman from Premier League side Everton.

The exciting winger has inked a five-year contract with RB Leipzig and has been handed the number 17 kit for the upcoming season.

In the second half of the 2017-18 campaign, Lookman played on loan at RB Leipzig and was involved in 9 goals (5goals, 4 assists) in 11 Bundesliga appearances.

Dele-Bashiru (Man City-Watford)

Watford have signed Tom Dele-Bashiru on a six-year deal after his contract expired at Manchester City.

The central midfielder made one appearance for the Premier League champions, in the Carabao Cup in 2017.

Dele-Bashiru, 19, has represented both England and Nigeria at youth level and scored for the Super Eagles in May’s Under-20 World Cup against Qatar

Taiwo Awoniyi (Liverpool-Mainz)

German Bundesliga side Mainz 05 have confirmed the acquisition of Taiwo Awoniyi on a season-long loan deal from Liverpool.

Liverpool confirmed the player will be spending his 2019/20 season on loan at Mainz, after a successful campaign with Belgian side Royal Excel Mouscron. he young Nigerian scored 11 times in 16 appearances across all competitions for Mouscron last season.

Ovie Ejaria (Liverpool-Reading)

Liverpool youngster Ovie Ejaria has completed his loan move to Championship side Reading FC, according to the club’s official website.

The former Golden Eaglets invitee spent the second half of last season with the Madejski outfit and was one of the best players in José Gomes’ team despite recording just 16 starts.

Mustapha Olagunju (Huddersfield)

Huddersfield Town have announced that Nigerian defender Mustapha Olagunju has committed his future to the club by inking his first professional contract.

The 17-year-old is now contracted to The Terriers until at least June 2021 after putting pen to paper on a two-year deal with the club having the option to extend that contract until the summer of 2022.

Sodiq Fatai

Portuguese LigaPro side G.D. Chaves have confirmed the signing of Nigerian striker Sodiq Fatai.

In the 2019-2020 campaign, the Paços de Ferreira-owned Fatai will play on loan at the demoted Primeira Liga side.

Chima Akas (Kalmar-Belenenses)

Kalmar FF have informed via their official website that Super Eagles left-back Chima Akas is no longer a player of the club after completing a transfer to Portuguese Primeira Liga side Belenenses.

Chima joined Kalmar from Enyimba in January 2018 and is credited with 35 appearances for the Swedish club across all competitions, including 31 in the Allsvenskan.

Bright Enobakhare (Wolves-Wigan)

English Premier League club Wolverhampton Wanderers announced via their official website on transfer deadline day that Nigerian-born striker Bright Enobakhare has penned a new one year contract.

The promising striker signed a season-long loan deal with Championship outfit Wigan Athletic after inking a new contract.

Enobakhare has embarked on his third loan stint, having previously played for Kilmarnock and Coventry City, for whom he scored 6 goals from 18 appearances in the second half of last season.