After Salernitana’s Serie A relegation, former Nigeria youth international heads to Belgium’s OH Leuven

Chukwubuikem Ikwuemesi’s adventure in Italy is about to come to an end as the former Flying Eagles striker edges close to a move to Belgium, Soccernet.ng reports. 

Ikwuemesi spent last season at Salernitana in the Italian Serie A after joining the club from Slovenian PrvaLiga side NK Celje in August 2023 for €1.8 million.

He had caught the eyes of the Italian side following a remarkable spell at Celje, where he smashed 11 goals and added five assists in only 37 appearances.

However, his time at Salernitana was not as productive as he managed only three goals and two assists in 27 games for the Garnets.

Salernitana, who only returned to Serie A in 2021 after a break of 23 seasons, eventually finished bottom of the Italian elite league table and suffered relegation to the second tier.

Despite still having three more years on his current contract with Salernitana, Ikwuemesi is reportedly close to the exit door.

According to transfer guru Sacha Tavolieri, Belgian top-flight club Oud-Heverlee Leuven have reached an agreement with Salernitana for the transfer of Ikwuemesi.

The 22-year-old striker is expected to ink a three-year contract that would see the Belgian Pro League side cough out 1.8 Million euros to Salernitana.

OH Leuven will also give the Italian club 10% from a subsequent transfer of the 22-year-old striker. Leuven finished tenth in the Belgian Pro League this season. 

Ikwuemesi will land in Belgium in the coming hours to undergo routine medical tests before signing the contract.

A product of Giant Brillars and Olive Charles Academy in Nigeria, Ikwuemesi has previously played for Austria’s Vorwärts Steyr and Slovenia’s NK Krško Posavje.