Some Nigerian footballers left their former clubs for new adventure elsewhere during the just-concluded summer transfer window.
Complete Sports takes a look at the Nigerian players who moved in the transfer window which came to an end on Monday, 5 October, 2020…
Victor OSIMHEN (Lille – Napoli)
Victor Osimhen joined Napoli earlier this summer from Lille for 70 million euros and has already justified the huge fee by scoring six goals in three pre-season games.
Osimhen was in blistering form for Lille last season after joining from Sporting Charleroi, netting 18 goals and making six assists in 38 games in all competitions for the French club.
Moses SIMON (Levante – Nantes)
French Ligue 1 side, FC Nantes signed Super Eagles winger, Moses Simon on a permanent deal after he impressed in his season-long loan at the club.
The Canaries agreed a four year deal with the club’s Player of the Year award winner who scored nine times and had eight assists in all competitions.
His direct play and ability to take on his marker made him a fans’ favourite at the Stade de la Beaujoire, gaining a decisive 40 per cent of the votes in a poll conducted to elect the club’s top performer of the campaign.
Cyriel DESSERS (Heracles Almelo – KRC Genk)
Belgian-born Nigerian attacker, Cyriel Dessers finished as joint top-scorer of the Dutch Eredivisie with 15 goals in 25 appearances for Heracles Almelo during the 2019/20 season.
The 25-year-old’s consistent goal-scoring run of form eventually saw him making a move to Belgian First Division A club, KRC Genk where compatriot, Paul Onuachu also plays.
Dessers is set to realize his dream of playing for Nigeria, having switched international allegiance and provides an intriguing competition for Napoli ace, Victor Osimhen.
Taiwo AWONIYI (Liverpool – Union Berlin)
Taiwo Awoniyi joined Union Berlin on loan from parent club, Liverpool, saying he is keen to take the next steps in his football career.
The 23-year-old is back in Germany for his seventh loan spell away from Anfield, completing a season-long loan move to Bundesliga side, Union.
Also Read: INTERVIEW – Sam Sodje: I Will Convince My Nephew At Man City Tai Sodje To Play For Nigeria
Awoniyi is a highly talented player who already knows the Bundesliga. The striker netted only once in twelve Bundesliga matches for Mainz last season.
Abdullahi SHEHU (Free agent – Omonia Nicosia)
Super Eagles right full-back, Abdullahi Shehu completed a return to Cyprus, joining Omonia Nicosia after spending two-and-a-half years at Bursaspor of Turkey.
Omonia only two weeks back, precisely on September 20 announced the signing of Shehu on a free transfer following the expiry of his contract at Bursaspor.
The 27-year-old penned a two-year deal with the Cypriot champions and will be playing in the Europa League. Shehu previously played for Anorthosis in Cyprus.
Francis UZOHO (Deportivo La Coruna – APOEL Nicosia)
Francis Uzoho joined APOEL Nicosia from Spanish second division club, Deportivo La Coruna on July 17 after spending the 2019-20 season on loan at rivals, Omonia Nicosia.
The Super Eagles goalkeeper made only five appearances in the Cypriot league for former club, Omonia last season as a result of a long-term injury which he suffered.
Uzoho picked up a very serious knee injury back in October of the year 2019 during Nigeria’s international friendly affair with five-time world champions, Brazil, a 1-1 draw.
The Nigerian international, however, earned a transfer to fellow Cypriot club, APOEL on a deal that runs until the summer of 2023 after leaving Deportivo on a permanent basis.
Uzoho in action
Leon BALOGUN (Wigan Athletic – Rangers)
Nigerian central defender, Leon Balogun joined Glasgow Rangers of Scotland earlier this summer from English club-side, Wigan Athletic which went into administration.
Balogun made a massive impact at Wigan Athletic in the second half of the 2019/20 SkyBet Championship season on loan from Premier League side, Brighton & Hove Albion.
The Nigerian international agreed a short-term extension to cover the last six matches of the season to help the club’s relegation fight but Wigan suffered a 12-point deduction.
Tyronne EBUEHI (Benfica – Twente Enschede)
Nigerian international, Tyronne Ebuehi has stated that he decided to join Twente Enschede ahead of the 2020/21 Dutch Eredivisie season so as to prove himself in the game.
Ebuehi on August 21 made a temporary exit from Benfica of Portugal where he found playing time very hard to come by to Twente of the Netherlands on a one-year loan deal.
The Enschede club even have an option to buy the defender on a permanent deal as soon as he sees through his loan adventure in the summer of 2021.
Oghenekaro ETEBO (Stoke City – Galatasaray)
Super Eagles midfielder, Oghenekaro Etebo will be looking to rekindle his career in an European topflight following his loan move to Turkish Super Lig side, Galatasaray.
Etebo had struggled in the lower rungs of English football starring for Championship side, Stoke City in the past two seasons spiced by a loan stint at Spanish LaLiga side, Getafe towards the end of last season.
The 24-year old’s time at Stoke has been fraught with injuries and poor form but he now stands the chance to fulfill his potential in the Turkish topflight.
A solid outing in Turkey will put Etebo in good stead to reclaim his first team place in the Eagles which is currently manned by Rangers of Scotland star, Joe Aribo who is currently the first choice.
Ola AINA (Torino – Fulham)
On September 11, Fulham confirmed the loan signing of Ola Aina from Torino which includes the option to make his move at Craven Cottage permanent for around £11m.
All through the 2019/20 season, the Super Eagles defender failed to find the net in the Serie A, having registered only two assists in 32 appearances for Torino.
The Nigerian international scored one goal in 30 matches in the Italian top-flight during the 2018/19 season after linking up with the Maroons on loan from former club, Chelsea.
Aina in action for Fulham
Obafemi MARTINS (Shanghai Shenhua – Wuhan Zall FC)
Former Newcastle United star and Nigeria international, Obafemi Akinwunmi Martins, joined Chinese Super League club, Wuhan Zalln FC on September 20 .
The 35-year-old joined Wuhan Zallan as a free agent two months after leaving Shangai Shenhua.
The experienced forward has had spells in Inter Milan, Newcastle, Wolfsburg, Rubin Kazan, Seattle Sounders FC, Shanghai Shenhua, and now Wuhan Zallan.
While Martins played in Europe, he scored a total of 72 goals in 239 appearances. Obafemi also played in the American Major League Soccer (MLS), scoring 40 goals in 72 appearances.
Olanrewaju KAYODE (Shakhtar Donetsk – Sivasspor)
Sivasspor are expecting goals from Olanrewaju Kayode after the Nigerian striker joined the Turkish Super Lig side on a one-year loan deal earlier this summer.
Kayode passed through health check at Acıbadem Altunizade Hospital, undergoing medical examinations complete with lungs, cardiac tests and radiological tests.
Sivasspor reached an agreement with original owners and Ukrainian outfit, Shakhtar Donetsk on loaning the Nigerian forward until the end of the 2020-2021 season.
Kayode who had 10 goals and 6 assists in 27 matches for Gaziantep last season has played for AFAD Djekanou, Luzern, Heartland, Maccabi Netanya, Austria Wien, Manchester City and Girona.
Chinedu OBASI (Free agent – Altach)
Nigeria forward Chinedu Obasi joined Austrian Bundesliga club, SC Rheindorf Altach. Obasi linked up with Altach as a free agent after leaving Swedish club, AIK Solna last year.
AIK Solna did not extend Obasi’s contract despite the forward scoring five times and recording two assists in 18 league appearances.
Chidera EJUKE (Heerenveen – CSKA Moscow)
Nigerian winger, Chidera Ejuke linked up with Russian Premier League club, CSKA Moscow from Dutch Eredivisie club, Heerenveen on a €12m deal in August.
Ejuke penned a four-year contract with CSKA. The pacy winger only linked up with Heerenveen from Norwegian club-side, Valerenga last year’s summer.
He scored 13 goals in 59 games during his two-year stay with Valeranga. Ejuke was Heereveen’s top scorer last season with nine goals and four assists in 25 league appearances.
Chidozie AWAZIEM (FC Porto – Boavista)
Chidozie Awaziem completed a move to Boavista where he will play on a one-year loan deal after leaving fellow Portuguese club, FC Porto temporarily.
The Nigerian central defender has not really had a great career since joining Porto as the club management have always sent him out to play on loan.
Awaziem actually spent the 2019/20 season on loan at Spanish club, Leganes. He’s also played on loan at Ligue 1 club, Nantes and Turkey’s Caykur Rizespor.
He had a very good outing during the last La Liga Santander season despite the fact that his club, Leganes suffered relegation into the Segunda division.
The versatile Super Eagles defender played 26 LaLiga games for Leganes on loan from Porto. He, however, headed back to Porto before joining Boavista on loan.
Boavista on their own part have the option to make the loan permanent. The 23-year-old Awaziem is gradually staking claim to a regular shirt for Nigeria.
Emem EDUOK (Hadjuk Split – Konyaspor)
Turkish side, Konyaspor completed the loan signing of fringe Nigerian international, Emem Eduok who made a temporary exit from parent club, Hadjuk Split of Croatia.
Eduok will spend the whole of the 2020-2021 Turkish Super Lig season on loan at Konyaspor, the striker’s original owners, Hadjuk officially announced on August 28.
The 26-year-old previously played in Kasımpaşa and BB Erzurumspor also in Turkey. He played 31 games for Hajduk last season with 11 goals and 3 assists to his name.
An option to buy has been inserted into the loan deal taking the Nigerian striker to Konyaspor.
John Obi MIKEL (Free agent – Stoke City)
John Obi Mikel joined Stoke City on August 17. He left Trabzonspor by mutual consent in March after expressing concern over the Turkish Super Lig continuing amid the covid-19 pandemic.
The Nigerian midfielder has gone ahead to become the first player to dorn the number 13 shirt at the Bet365 Stadium since his old pal and compatriot, Victor Moses during a year on loan in the 2014/15 season.
Ogenyi ONAZI (Free agent – SonderjyskE)
Danish side, SonderjyskE on Sunday announced the signing of Ogenyi Onazi on a one-year contract with an option for an extension of two more seasons.
The midfielder left Turkish Super Lig side, Denizlispor after only playing nine league games for the club at the end of the 2019-20 season.
The Nigerian international has previously featured for Serie A side Lazio and Trabzonspor and will now continue his development in Denmark.
Umar SADIQ (Partizan Belgrade – Almeria)
Umar Sadiq completed a deadline day move to Spanish Segunda side, Almeria from Partizan Belgrade of Serbia with Sportski Zurnal claiming the deal was worth €5m (£4.5m).
The Nigerian striker racked up 17 goals in 39 games for Partizan last season as well as six goals in 13 games this term, emerging as a goalscoring sensation in Serbia.
Sadiq who joined Almeria on a five-year contract will wear the number nine jersey and is expected to make his competitive debut against UD Logrones on October 10 in a second division tie.
William TROOST-EKONG (Udinese – Watford)
Super Eagles defender, William Troost-Ekong joined English side, Watford on a 5-year-deal from Serie A outfit, Udinese recently, precisely on September 29, 2020.
Troost-Ekong will wear squad number 5 and will play in the English championship following Watford’s relegation from the Premier League in the 2019/2020 season.
The Nigerian international was a regular fixture for Udinese with which he made 66 appearances in two seasons. He, however, did not make any appearances this season for the Italian side.
Azubuike OKECHUKWU (FC Pyramids – Istanbul Başakşehir)
Nigerian midfielder, Azubuike Okechukwu joined Turkish Super Lig champions, Istanbul Başakşehir on a permanent deal on July 19, 2020.
Okechukwu spent last season on loan at the club from Egyptian Premier League club FC Pyramids. The 23-year-old penned a three-year contract with Başakşehir.
Brown IDEYE (Aris – Goztepe)
Nigeria forward, Brown Ideye on August 22 joined Turkish Super Lig club Goztepe on a two-year deal.Ideye, 31, last played for Greek Super League outfit, Aris.
The talented striker scored eight goals in 22 league appearances for Aris last season. The vastly travelled striker has played for clubs in Switzerland, France, Ukraine, England, Greece, China and Spain.
Goztepe finished 11th in the Super Lig table last season and they will be aiming to surpass the feat when the 2020-21 campaign begins on September 12.
Brian IDOWU ( Locomotiv Moscow – Khimki)
Brian Oladapo Idowu linked up with newly promoted Russian Premier League club, Khimki from Locomotiv Moscow on loan earlier this summer, precisely on August 7, 2020.
Zaidu SANUSI (Santa Clara – FC Porto)
Zaidu Sanusi made a sensational move from Santa Clara to Portuguese giants FC Porto on a five years deal for an undisclosed fee.
The 23-years old left full-back signed a contract to keep him at the club till the end of the 2024-2025 season.
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COMMENTS
The much hyped Emmanuel Dennis didn’t make a move, despite all the supposed links to clubs in England, Spain and France.
This guy is good, but his agent seem to be overhyping him and this isn’t doing him some good.
His minders should allow him settle at Brugges and perform better than his good showing of last season. His time will surely come.
Isaac Success has stubbornly refused to leave Watford even when he isn’t getting playing time. This guy may need to go on loan to another championship club where he will get enough playing time to show his stuff. He did so well with Granada in La Liga and we thought he should be a major factor in Super Eagles by now but injuries, indiscipline and poor form have robbed him of this height. I wish him well though.
9ice 1 good job.
Tolu Arokadare who joined FC Koln of Germany was not listed. Blessing Eleke who moved to Beerschot V. of Belgium was also omitted. Paul Omo Mukairu joined RSC Anderlecht from Antalyaspor of Turkey was also ignored.Stephen Odey joined Amiens SC of France,Maduka Okoye joined Sparta Rotterdam ,the list goes on and on…or are they not Nigerians? If those who moved to other clubs on loan were not included,then what of Tyrone Ebuehi’s move is on loan?
You sabi wella.
i am sure it is an oversight, great you adding these omitted players. so many, I think one or two players also moved within north African league, in Tunisia or so
Even Obinna Nwobodo joined Turkish club from Hungary club side…