Official: 2022 Super Eagles invitee joins Swedish club IF Elfsborg

The 2012 Allsvenskan champions have welcomed one of the NPFL’s finest defenders to Sweden

With a statement on their official website, Swedish top division side IF Elfsborg have announced the signing of young Nigerian defender Ibrahim Buhari on a permanent transfer.

Buhari, 20, joins the six-time Allsvenskan champions from Plateau United on a four-year deal.

Buhari is already in Borås, Sweden, and he is expected to join Elfsborg’s first team immediately.

Last season, the physically imposing centre-back played 34 games in a row for Plateau United, scoring six goals, while helping the Jos-based club to a second-place finish behind NPFL champions Rivers United.

Impressed by a clean sheet record in 17 matches and only 29 goals conceded in 38 games, Super Eagles head coach Jose Peseiro invited Buhari to the national team setup earlier this year.

Buhari has expressed his delight at moving to Europe.

“I am very, very happy to be here. I feel ready to finally get started properly,” Buhari said.

“Since I signed the contract, I have been eager to come to Sweden and Elfsborg. I have followed the team and had a little extra control over statistics of various kinds.”

The summer transfer season in Sweden has been closed for over a month.

Elfsborg manager Stefan Andreass is quick to stress that the club completed the transfer of Buhari before the window slammed shut and that paperwork delayed the announcement.

“We are very pleased to be able to attract a player of Ibrahim’s caliber and potential and look forward to continuing to develop him as a person and player,” Andreass said.

“We agreed with Plateau United and Ibrahim Buhari before our transfer window closed on August 11 and then there has been a wait for the work permit which is now ready.”
Team manager Jimmy Thelin is equally delighted to add Buhari, with all his positive qualities, to the first team.

Thelin said, “Ibrahim is a big, powerful and athletic defender with a good passing foot and a good eye for the game.

“Ibrahim’s timing and athletic ability make him a big threat in offensive set-piece situations which was shown by a good goal scored in the league game.

“This combined means that Ibrahim is a profile that we believe will suit us well for the future.”