Nigeria forward Paul Onuachu has joined Belgian league champions KRC Genk from Danish club, FC Midtjylland and signed a four-year contract, reports Completesports.com.
Onuachu joined the Belgian league champions from Danish club, FC Midtjylland.
The Smurfs paid around six million euros to land the lanky forward and that can still increase through bonuses.
KRC Genk announced the signing of Onuachu on their website on Thursday evening.
“KRC Genk reached an agreement with Danish [club] FC Midtjylland about the transfer of Paul Onuachu. The 25-year-old Nigerian striker signed a contract until 2024,” the Belgian club stated.
“Paul Onuachu is a good striker. With his 2.1m [height], he is very present in the box, strong in duels both in the air and on the ground. At FC Midtjylland, Paul played no fewer than 181 matches, [scored] 74 goals and 23 assists in recent seasons. He is also a Nigeria international with 6 caps and one goal.
“KRC Genk are proud to add Onuachu to their attack, and looks forward to his matches at the Luminus Arena.”
FC Midtjylland also confirmed Onuachu’s departure and thanked the forward for his great contributions during his stay at the club.
”Paul Onuachu has signed a four-year contract with the Belgian champions , KRC Genk, and he will immediately begin work on his new club, where he can also look forward to playing in Europe’s finest club tournament, the Champions League, reads a statement on FC Midtjylland’s official website.
Midtjylland’s sporting director, Svend Graversen eulogised the forward for his positive contribution during his time at the club.
“Paul is a fantastic story for a forward. He entered the academy and developed quietly, both as a human and a player, and many in the club, ranging from the foster family to the coaching staff, have a stake in the fact that we now sell Paul to a strong and big club like KRC Genk,” Graversen told the club’s website.
“It is a fantastic sale for the whole club, we wish Paul all the best in the future, and of course we thank him for all he did for the club.”
Onuachu scored 74 goals and recorded 23 assists in 181 appearances for Midtjylland.
He scored five goals in 13 games during a loan spell with Vejle BK in 2015.
The 25-year-old was part of the Super Eagles side that won bronze medal at the 2019 Africa Cup of Nations in Egypt.
By Adeboye Amosu
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COMMENTS
Congratulations to him. Hope he packs more goals to his credit. All the best in Belgium
Nice move. He surely needs this move to be in the reckoning. Hopefully he can replicate his form in Denmark at the Belgian top flight. The fact that he will playing in the Champions league is an added advantage. Good luck in Belgium and hopefully better for the SuperEagles.
The top five clubs all bought Nigerian players, except one (Standard Liege). Plus the top two Genk and Brugge both now have two Nigerians in their attack:
1. Genk: Onuachu and Stephen Odey both joined this season
2. Club Brugge bought David Okereke to partner Dennis Bonaventure in attack
3. Standard Liege has Henry Uche Agbo and did not buy any Nigerians
4. Antwerp bought junior Pius
5. Gent bought Reuben Yem but sold Anderson Esiti
Having moved to the more competitive Belgian league, Paul Onuachu now has the opportunity to prove that he can replicate the same sort of goal scoring form that brought him to prominence in Denmark.
The lanky striker, in my view, also needs to give his game a bit more definiton.
With his size, he needs to be the go-to player to bring others in, hold up play and create opportunities for other pacey forwards/attacking midfielders around him, be a nuisance to defenders whilst scoring a healthy number of goals himself.
For all his exploits in Denmark, I thought his game lacked a clear definition in the execution of moves that could have brought out the best of his attributes.
This lack of definition led to his below-par performances for Nigeria at the recently concluded Afcon.
Now its time to step up and prove that he has what it takes to be a centre forward of repute.
Onuachu has d height n built of a striker but really disappointing to watch him being knocked off balls so easily by smaller players. He has to be very strong on d ball, not dropping down so lazily. He has to be Drogba like lion for defenders. This is one area that truly put Ighalo ahead of all the other strikers. To be honest here is one area Tammy Abraham has developed so well. He hardly falls down.
Well, unless he changes his mind, Tammy Abraham has chosen England over Nigeria. So, let’s focus on the guys that are available and willing to don our jersey. Unless he has a change of heart, which I think is unlikely, his international future is with the 3 Lions.
Very true@ Pompei. I wasn’t actually clamouring for Tammy. But that shouldn’t stop me from challenging our willing players with qualities found in other players that can make them better.
Agreed, Glory. I would encourage Osimhen, Onuachu and other up and coming Nigeria attackers to watch the clips of Kanu, Drogba and E’too. I’m sure they will learn a thing or two about being a striker from watching these three guys!
Which quality?is it not the same Abraham i have been watching with Chelsea? Let’s value what we have,we have batter strikers than Abraham.
King, you are right. Our strikers are far better than Abraham.
Which quality?is it not the same Abraham i have been watching with Chelsea? Let’s value what we have,we have better strikers than Abraham.
As of yesterday, Abraham is begging and appealing to the NFF that he would love to play for Nigeria. He said that he believed that he is very qualified to play for his father land.
Edoman, that is interesting. If he decides to join the SE fold, then he will be welcomed with open arms. Let him come and compete with the young guns we already have.