The youngster has been on the radar of several European clubs following his bright spell in the Czech Republic, and it appears his next destination is set in stone
Eintracht Frankfurt have won the race to sign promising Viktoria Plzen forward Rafiu Durosinmi, Soccernet.ng reports.
Frankfurt made the signing of a new centre-forward their number-one priority in January as a replacement for the departed Randal Kolo Muani, and they have landed their top target in Durosinmi.
According to 90min, Frankfurt and Viktoria Plzen have agreed to the transfer of Durosinmi, with the 20-year-old expected to sign the deal next week.
He is expected to be Frankfurt’s second signing of the winter transfer window, as the club is also close to completing a loan move for Manchester United’s Donny van de Beek.
Durosinmi is currently recovering from an injury that has kept him out of action since October.
The Nigerian forward is reportedly close to full fitness and will ink a long-term contract with Frankfurt after his medical checkup next week.
Durosinmi will reportedly cost Frankfurt nine million euros.
That transfer fee would make Durosinmi the joint-fourth most expensive signing in Frankfurt’s history.
Still, the Bundesliga campaigners will know they have acquired the exciting forward at a bargain.
Tall at 1.93m and physically imposing, Durosinmi is unsurprisingly good with his head and ridiculously adept with both feet, and the youngster was reportedly on the radar of Premier League clubs Wolves and Brighton.
Frankfurt were not his only admirer in Germany as well, with Stuttgart also keen.
However, Durosinmi always had his heart set on Frankfurt and will look to warm himself into the hearts of Frankfurters the way his legendary compatriot Austin Okocha did 30 years ago.
Okocha is the most successful Nigerian to ever wear the colours of Eintracht Frankfurt, with the former Super Eagles captain considered among the greatest players in the club’s history.
It was for Frankfurt that Okocha scored that audacious goal against Oliver Kahn and Karlsruher SC that is still regarded as one of the most iconic goals ever in German football.
A handful of Nigerians have signed for Frankfurt since Okocha left the club in 1996 for Turkey’s Fenerbahce. Still, none of Nduka Anyanwu, Donald Agu, Henry Isaac Nwosu, or Isaac Ojigwe made any meaningful impact in Hesse.
Durosinmi, however, will look to add a new, rich, and exciting chapter to the Nigerian story in Frankfurt.
The youngster, who will be 21 on New Year’s Day, has the talent and the charisma to make it a memorable adventure.
The Box2Box academy product only arrived in Europe in 2022, but he has caused more than just a stir with ten goals in 39 games for Karvina and 13 goals in 34 matches for Plzen.
Before his injury, he was proving to be a terror to defenders in the Czech Fortuna Liga with six goals and six assists in only 11 games.
If he continues on that trajectory in Germany, he would need fewer than 90 games to equal and surpass the 18 Bundesliga goals Okocha managed for Frankfurt.
And it would be time for the club and its adoring fans to fall in love again with another Nigerian hero.
This post was last modified on December 22, 2023 7:29 am
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