“That was a dream” – Super Eagles star reveals failed Ajax move and his disappointing spell at Watford

Super Eagles goalkeeper Maduka Okoye has provided more details about his adventure in the Netherlands and England before he arrived in Italy, Soccernet.ng reports.

After making his debut for Nigeria in 2019, Okoye saw his career take a positive turn as he secured a move from the reserve team of Fortuna Dusseldorf in Germany to Eredivisie side Sparta Rotterdam.

During an excellent spell at Sparta Rotterdam, where he was named Player of the Year in successive years, Okoye was linked with a move to Dutch giants Ajax Amsterdam.

However, nothing came out of those rumours as Watford, then in the Premier League, paid €5 million – the highest transfer fee for a Nigerian goalkeeper – to acquire Okoye in January 2022.

The Nigeria international was allowed to finish the season with Sparta but by the time he arrived at Watford in the summer, the Hornets had suffered relegation to the Championship.

Okoye did not play a single game in the second tier for Watford before he was sent to the Hornet's sister club, Udinese last year.

After a slow start in Italy, Okoye became Udinese's first-choice goalie and he impressed conceding only 25 goals in 21 appearances, attracting the admiration of Inter Milan.

Looking back on how his club career has panned out, the 22-year-old is grateful that everything is beginning to work out well after many struggles.

“Yes, it's true that there were talks with Ajax back then, but it never got close to a deal,” Okoye told Tribal Football.

“When Watford came it was a whole different world, the Premier League was around. I signed in the winter and by that time Watford was in the Premier League. That was a dream for a young boy from Düsseldorf, Germany.

“Unfortunately, by the time I arrived in summer, Watford went down to the Championship.

“It was a tough year personally… a year with surgery, a year without playing… and still the Pozzo family gave me the chance to make a move to Udinese for which I'll be forever grateful!”

Okoye and Udinese narrowly escaped relegation on the final day of the 2023/24 Serie A season.