Club Brugge have announced the signing of Nigerian midfielder Raphael Onyedika on a five-year contract.
The Belgian Jupiler giants announced Onyedika’s signing in a statement released on their website on Sunday.
“Club Brugge and FC Midtjylland reached an agreement for the transfer of Raphael Onyedika,” the club announced.
“Onyedika (21) is a defensive midfielder who can also play centrally in the defence. He was trained at FC Ebedei in Nigeria and came to Europe in 2019.
“After a loan to FC Fredericia, he broke through last season with the main squad of Midtjylland. Onyedika impressed in the Danish top league and in the Europa League and won the cup. His good performances were rewarded with the best young player award in Denmark.
“He signs a contract until 2027.”
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In his first full season in FC Midtjylland, Onyedika impressed in the U-19 League and in the UEFA Youth League with his physique, speed and playing style and on 1 July 2020 signed his first five-year professional contract with the club until June 2025.
To gain some more experience, Onyedika was loaned out to Midtjylland’s affiliate club, Danish 1st Division-side FC Fredericia, on 19 August 2020 for the whole 2020-21 season.
Onyedika did well on his loan spell, playing 28 games and scoring three goals. The season went so well that he came on TV3 Sport’s Team of the Year in the Danish 1st Division.
13 Comments
It’s a career upgrade but to be honest I’m not impressed because I wanted him to join AC Milan who where so desperate to have him. Seems Nigerian plays evade big clubs to avoid competition.
The best man alongside Alhassan Yusuf of Royal Antwerp of Belgium, who can rival Wilfred Ndidi in the Super Eagles defensive midfield position. Enough of these experimentation with Innocent Bonke,Frank Onyeka and Samson Tijani . Ramon Azeez,Mikel Agu,Ogenyi Onazi,Azubuike Okechukwu,Kingsley Michael,Afeez Aremu,Obiora Nwankwo,Izunna Uzochukwu,Anderson Esiti and others have been given their chances. Onyedika and Yusuf should also be given his own chances and the international friendly with Algeria presents a golden opportunity!
Well said!!! Onyedika and Yusuf are the main contenders for the DM role in the SE and should be given a chance to stake a claim against algeria. However, knowing how sentimental we are as Nigerians, we are likely to see a clubless Etebo in the list. I also hope to see Malcom Ebiowei , the boy is a baller! If he decides to play for Nigeria (Which is very likely given his uncle is Finidi), i think that will end Dennis prospect in the eagles. The boy is strong, very skillful and tricky with a wicked left foot and astute with set pieces.
Nice one @Golden Child. Malcolm Ebiowei will be a great addition to the Super Eagles,no doubt. He came to the Nigerian U17 camp last time and it will be a surprise if he dumps Nigeria. Coach Finidi George should help Nigeria nick this one. His international future needs to be sorted out from FIFA though having featured for both the Netherlands and England at youth level before now. Ebiowei will be amazing in a Super Eagles shirt with his mesmerizing footwork and “wicked” predatory left foot.
MIDTYLLAND is a very GREEDY and WICKED CLUB.
They could offered ONYEDIKA to AC MILAN instead of this soft club..
Imagine just a difference of 1million Euros…
SMH…
*Could have*
I was excited about a move to Ac Milan was let down he chose Club Brugge instead.
I’m sure he will get reasonable game time otherwise they won’t be keen about signing him.The Ac Milan coach wanted him for a reason but our players rather chicken out at competing for places in top European clubs.
I think a player should have confidence in their abilities that’s the spirit to get to the top.
A move to Ac Milan would have speed up his super eagles chances and revered among his compatriots as one playing for the biggest club in the team.At the moment no player in the super eagles plays for a bigger club than Ac Milan,I’m let down the young man chose Belgium instead what a shame.
Anyways good-luck hopefully,you have a great season in Belgium and get a transfer to a top league we shall support you every week,stay fit and train hard God has your back.
@Greenturf,I think Onyedika’s move to Club Brugge KV in the Belgian Jupiler League is the best for now. It will be good for his development and the lad will get enough game time. Austin Eguavoen,Victor Ikpeba,Daniel Amokachi,Kenneth Omeruo,Joseph Yobo,Sunday Oliseh and others were regulars for the Super Eagles when they were still playing in the same Belgian league.We should remember that this player has only featured in Denmark after leaving Nigeria and Belgium will be his second foreign country he will play in as a professional footballer. Or are you suggesting he goes to AC Milan just for the big name tag and be reduced to a mere bench warmer? Believe me,Belgium is not a bad start for a player who is yet to earn his first Super Eagles cap.
If you had played football before and you were so good you will understand what I meant by a player having confidence.If you are confident of your qualities you can excel anywhere unless you’re not good.
Players have moved from small clubs to great one and was a success.If you’re good you will break into any top team but may require patience in some cases.
This stereotype of taking it slowly from Lithuania to Belgium to Switzerland to France….yawn..yawn yawn..there’s no guarantee you will making it to the top moving at a snail pace,yes in some cases but not all the time.
There’s a player at Napoli at the moment hitting the headline his name is weird though I think he’s called Kava he moved from a team in Malta he didn’t decline Napoli’s offer to develop from a team in Denmark but today he’s the star of Napoli.
Good move, go to where you will play regularly and not where you will be loaned out.
If AC wanted him so badly they would have paid what he was worth.
He will do well in Belgium and from there get a better opportunity to play in a bigger league and club. And I see him playing in the super Eagles team very soon.
Nice one @Sportsfan.Thanks bro.
Nice one Ochiabuto.
Yes,Onyedika has made the best decision concerning his next career move after signing for Club Brugges.
It’s not abt the big names clubs, the steady development of the player nd first team action is all that matters as far as the transfer is concerned. AC Milan didn’t up match the value of the player (as we were made to understand that Maldini nd the rest like him) bvos they couldn’t assure of his stay in the main team atleast for now nd the guy needed so dearly, where he could be made to stay withing the main team atleast nd push for his spot on the match day squads.
He is a very sound technical player as even the Milan’s technical team may have since found out bt who knows if they would have considered loaning him out for now.
Pls, let’s try to support our players who to me, have nd would continue making the best decisions for THIER CAREERS as Raphael Onyedika has done today.
I can’t wait to see u soon in the super eagles my baller.
Congratulations!