Official: Nigeria youngster Orakpo leaves OGC Nice to join Etebo at Gençlerbirliği

Nigeria youngster Victor Orakpo has left French club OGC Nice to join Turkish side Gençlerbirliği on loan, giving the highly rated forward another chance to build his senior career, Soccernet.ng reports.

Nice confirmed on Thursday that it had reached an agreement with Gençlerbirliği for Orakpo’s loan, which includes an option to buy. The 20-year-old joined Nice in January 2024 and made five appearances for the French club’s first team.

The move takes Orakpo to Turkey after two loan spells in France, where regular first-team football proved difficult to secure.

Orakpo: A fresh start in Turkey

Orakpo’s lack of playing time at Nice has been one of the main challenges in his development. He made his senior debut in the 2024-25 season but finished that campaign with only four Ligue 1 appearances and 36 minutes. He also played once in the Europa League that season.

Nice sent him to Montpellier during the 2025-26 campaign, where he made 13 Ligue 2 appearances. He later spent time at Nancy. Across those two Ligue 2 spells, he made 21 league appearances, including 10 starts, but did not score.

The Turkish move gives the Nigerian forward a different environment and another opportunity to play senior football consistently. It could also give him a chance to turn the potential that made Nice extend his contract until 2028 into regular performances.

Orakpo first attracted attention through the Bayern Munich youth system. He was named MVP of the 2022 FC Bayern Youth Cup after helping Nigeria win the tournament with six goals.

At Gençlerbirliği, the young forward will also have a familiar Nigerian presence around him. Former Super Eagles midfielder Peter Etebo is part of the Ankara club’s squad and signed a contract extension through June 2027.

Etebo, 30, brings experience from Stoke City, Galatasaray, Watford and Nigeria to the Turkish side. His presence could provide Orakpo with an experienced Nigerian teammate as the young striker begins another chapter.