Official: Oghenekaro Etebo joins three-time Super League champions

The Nigeria international was deemed surplus to requirement at Stoke, but he begins a new adventure in Greece

Three-time Greek Super League champions Aris Thessaloniki have announced the signing of Super Eagles midfielder Oghenekaro Etebo from Stoke City.

A statement on the club’s official website confirms that the 26-year-old midfield dynamo joins the Yellow-Blacks on a permanent deal.

Managed by Englishman Alan Pardew, Aris will present Etebo another chance to forget his Stoke City misery and get his career back on a positive trajectory.

Stoke City signed Etebo in 2018 after a hugely successful time in Portugal with Feirense. The Nigeria international lived up to his billing in his first season and was one of the team’s better performers as the Potters finished in 16th position.

But a change of manager at Stoke in his second season affected Etebo’s fortunes. Consequently, the former Warri Wolves man was shipped out on loan first to Getafe and later to Galatasaray.

Another loan spell took Etebo to Watford last term, but injury did not allow the versatile playmaker to make more than nine appearances in the Premier League.

Watford were relegated at the end of the campaign and Etebo returned to Stoke City. There he was made to train with the U-23 team while the main Stoke squad had preseason preparations.

Etebo now teams up with an Aris side that finished third in the Greek championship last season and have ambitions of ending their wait for a fourth league title.