Official: Forgotten Super Eagles star returns to German football with Erzgebirge Aue

The Super Eagles star is not a stranger to German football, having spent five years in the country playing in the first and second divisions

Nigerian defender Jamilu Collins is back in Germany after signing with third-division side Erzgebirge Aue, bringing top-flight experience to a squad in need of stability, Soccernet.ng reports.

The Saxony-based third-division club has confirmed with a statement on their official website that Collins has joined pending the signing of contract papers on Monday.

The 31-year-old left-back, who has 25 Nigeria caps, was a free agent after leaving Cardiff City at the end of last season.

Once a regular in the Bundesliga with SC Paderborn, Collins now becomes one of the most experienced figures in Aue’s ranks, with more than 270 professional appearances across Germany, Croatia, Slovenia, and England.

Aue turned to Collins following the injury to first-choice left-back Moritz Seiffert, whose long-term absence left the club exposed defensively.

The Nigerian is expected to slot straight into the starting XI once final paperwork is complete, and he will wear the number 29 shirt.

Collins’ career has been a globe-trotting journey. From breaking through at Rijeka in Croatia, to battling in Slovenia and Croatia’s lower leagues, to stepping up in Germany with SC Paderborn, he carved a reputation as a reliable, hard-running defender. His standout moment came in 2019, scoring a thunderous 35-yard strike against Bayern Munich in the Bundesliga.

A move to Cardiff in 2022 followed, where Collins quickly became a fan favourite before a serious knee injury sidelined him for much of his debut season. He returned to action in 2024 and was rewarded with a contract extension which expired this summer.

Internationally, Collins debuted for Nigeria in 2018 and went on to play a key role in the Super Eagles' qualification for the 2019 Africa Cup of Nations. He was also part of the squad for the 2021 tournament.

Meanwhile, Aue confirmed a fresh setback for midfielder Can Özkan, who requires another knee operation and will miss the entire 2025/26 campaign.

For Collins, however, the move represents a new chapter. Once tipped as Nigeria’s long-term solution at left-back, the Kaduna-born defender now has the chance to relaunch his career in a league where his experience could prove decisive.