On a weekend that the Super Eagles suffered their first defeat at the 2019 African Nations Cup, Nigerian players appeared to be making strides in the summer transfer window. Enyimba defender, Valentine Ozornwafor signed the dotted lines Turkish giants, Galatasaray, former MFM forward, Stephen Odey left his Swiss club for Genk while little-known Junior Pius joined another Belgian club, Antwerp. In Germany, Shehu Ibrahim and Anthony Ujah signed for Bundesliga newcomers, Union Berlin.
The News Editor, ADEBAYO OLODAN compiles news on the future of Nigerian players abroad plus reaction of football faithful following the Super Eagles’ surprise 0-2 loss against Madagascar.
ENGLAND
Oyegoke, Ejeheri extend Arsenal stay
Arsenal has signed a new deal with Ovie Ejeheri and Daniel Oyegoke, ahead of next season.
The Gunners signed the new deal with Ejeheri and Oyegoke at London Colney on Monday.
Ejeheri is a goalkeeper while Oyegoke is a right-back.
The duo will play for Arsenal’s U18s in the 2019-2020 season. Arsenal finished outside of the English Premier League top-four last season. Unai Emery’s side were defeated by Chelsea in the UEFA Europa League final last term.
Saints preparing £15m bid for Okereke
As each day passes it looks more and more like Southampton will not be getting Che Adams to the south coast and now they are evaluating other options.
David Okereke, is now in the cross hairs of the club as they look to sign the 21-year-old goal scorer from the Italian side Spezia for a reported £15m transfer fee.
The youngster put in 10 goals to go with 12 assists in 33 matches this season and even made his first appearance for the Nigerian senior squad last season.
Southampton is not the only Premier League club Okereke has caught the eye of.
Saints will have competition in the form of Newcastle, Wolves, and Crystal Palace. Although it is said that Southampton are leading the race, they will have to act quickly in order to bring the pacey forward to the club.
As disappointing as it may be to many supporters that the club may not get their number one choice in Charlie Adams, it has to be encouraging to see the club have a quick turnaround and identify another target in such a short span of time.
Uwakwe signs new Chelsea deal
Promising midfielder, Tariq Uwakwe has ended all speculation surrounding his future by inking a new deal with 2019 Europa League winners Chelsea.
The 19-year-old would have been a free agent on July 1 but has decided to extend his stay at Stamford Bridge.
Uwakwe has retweeted a post from Jamal Reid of Colossal Sports Management, who looks after him, confirming that he has accepted the offer of a new contract and penned the deal.
It is believed that an official announcement will be made by The Blues next month.
Allnigeriasoccer.com previously reported that the central midfielder was offered to Lyon as he had wanted to explore other options but any proposed move is dead in the water for the time being.
Born in London, Uwakwe joined Chelsea Academy at U9 level and rose through the ranks before becoming an important member of the U23 team.
He represented Chelsea youth teams in the UEFA Youth League, Premier League 2 and EFL Trophy last season.
Walsall signs ex- Fulham striker, Adebayo
Walsall FC has added to their squad ahead of the new season, bringing in young Nigerian striker Elijah Adebayo.
Aged 21, Adebayo, who was released by demoted Premier League club Fulham at the end of the 2018-2019 season, will officially join the Saddlers on July 1when his contract with the Cottagers expires.
He has played 34 matches in the Football League, scoring seven goals in total for Cheltenham Town and Swindon Town, and also enjoyed loan spells at Slough Town, Bognor Regis Town and Stevenage.
Adebayo is delighted to have agreed terms with Walsall and told the club’s official website: ”I am very excited to get going with the club.
”It’s always a bit different when you are on loan but I can now call this place my home and try to do as much as I can for Walsall.
”The manager has told me to be myself, play with a lot of confidence and belief, and to just try and get as many goals as possible.”
The 6’4” front man is the fourth player to be signed by Walsall in the summer transfer window.
Ameobi joins The Reds
Nottingham Forest is delighted to announce the signing of winger Sammy Ameobi on a one-year contract.
The 27-year-old joins The Reds having left Bolton Wanderers at the end of last season.
Ameobi started his career at Newcastle United, making 70 appearances for his hometown side, and enjoyed loan spells at Middlesbrough, Cardiff City and Bolton, with his move to the latter being made permanent following their promotion to the Championship in 2017.
The former England and Nigeria youth international will now join up with Martin O’Neill’s side ahead of the 2019-20 campaign.
Nottingham Forest is delighted to announce that Sabri Lamouchi has been appointed as the club’s new head coach.
TURKEY
Enyimba defender, Ozornwafor, pens 4-yr-deal with Gala
Turkish Super League champions, Galatasaray has announced the signing of Nigeria defender Valentine Ozornwafor on a four-year contract.
The Turkish champions snapped up the centre-back after his fine defensive displays at the 2019 FIFA U-20 World Cup in Poland.
Ozornwafor joined the Turkish champions from Nigeria Professional Football League (NPFL) outfit, Enyimba.
Galatasaray paid the sum of €300,000 to secure the services of Ozornwafor from the eight – time NPFL champions.
The centre-back was one of the three new signings alongside Ryan Babel and Adem Buyuk unveiled by the club on Friday.
Ozornwafor, as a member of the Flying Eagles at the 2019 FIFA World Cup in Poland, made two appearances before the country’s exit in the knockout round.
“I would like to thank the fans and everyone for their support. This is a dream come true for me,” Ozornwafor told the club’s website.
“When you’re a kid, in a big club, in front of a great atmosphere, working and playing with great people is your biggest dream. That’s why I’m so happy to be here today.”
RUSSIA
36-yr-old Oyewole pens deal with RPL newcomers
Through a statement on their official website, Russian Premier League newcomers FC Tambov has announced the capture of Russian-Nigerian defender Adesoye Oyewole.
The 36-year-old has inked a one-year deal with the current Russian Football National League champions.
Oyewole spent the last four years at Gazovik Orenburg and departs the club after racking up 168 appearances in all competitions, scoring 11 goals (7 assists) from his defensive position.
‘The management and the entire team of our club wish the newcomer a quick adaptation in Tambov and as often as possible please the fans with a good and reliable game, productive actions and victories, “Tambov stated on their official website.
Born in Moscow to a Nigerian father and a Russian mother, Oyewole found the net against CSKA Moscow, Zenit St Petersburg and Krasnodar last season.
He previously defended the colours of Torpedo-ZIL Moscow, Nika Moscow, Zhemchuzhina Sochi, FC Reutov, Ural Yekaterinburg and Sibir Novosibirsk.
BELGIUM
Antwerp signs Pius
Royal Antwerp has completed the signing of highly rated 23-year-old defender, Junior Pius from Pacos de Ferreira.
The club announced via their official website, that he has joined them on a four-year deal, with a club option for the 2023-2024 season.
Junior Pius was a key player for Pacos de Ferreira last season, making 33 appearances for the club, and contributing 3 goals from defence.
“It is one of the best days of my life, because I have made a step up.” he said.
Ex-MFM forward, Odey inks Genk deal
21- year-old forward, Steven Odey has completed his permanent transfer from FC Zurich to KRC Genk in Belgium on a 4-year deal for a reported 3.7 million Euros.
The move comes for Steven following 2 successful years in the Swiss Super League. The 6ft tall forward had a fine 2018/2019 season, scoring 10 goals and assisting 2 others.
He also won the Swiss Cup with FC Zurich in the 2017/2018 season.
FINLAND
Echiejile terminates HJK Helsinki contract
Finnish Veikkausliiga champions, HJK Helsinki. has announced that they have ended their association with Nigeria international Elderson Echiejile.
The left-back joined the Finnish powerhouse as a free agent in March, penning a guaranteed one-year deal until the end of the 2019 season, but has decided to move on to pastures new.
Echiejile played five matches for HJK, scoring twice and providing one assist but did not get playing time in the last three games contested by the club in the league.
”HJK and Elderson Echiéjilé have terminated their contract and Elderson will not continue with the HJK team,” HJK tweeted on Friday, June 28.
”We thank Elderson for his contribution to the team and the club and wish him all the best in the future. Thanks, Eddy.”
Aged 31, Echiejile was a member of the Super Eagles squad to the 2010 and 2018 World Cups and has 59 caps for the senior national team.
The Insurance product who lists Monaco, Rennes and Braga among his former clubs was a key member of the Super Eagles squad that won the AFCON in 2013.
AUSTRIA
Okoh joins Red Bull Salzburg
Austrian Bundesliga champions Red Bull Salzburg has announced the signing of multi-eligible central defender Bryan Okoh.
The 16-year-old has joined Salzburg from Swiss club FC Lausanne Sport and has inked a three-year deal that will keep him in Austria until May 31, 2022.
Next season, Okoh will represent Red Bull Salzburg’s cooperation club FC Liefering who compete in the second-tier of Austrian football.
Born in 2003, the center back has played internationally for Switzerland at U15 and U16 levels and is also eligible to represent his country of birth, United States as well as Nigeria through his parents.
Okoh made 7 appearances in the Swiss U18 Elite League last season and received only one yellow card against FC Sion U18s back in March.
He captained Switzerland U16s in their 2-0 win against Chile in April 2019.
