Nigerian players have been completing transfers from one club to another since when the 2023 summer transfer window has been opened
While major football league seasons are on break, transfer businesses have started ahead of the coming season. Some Nigerian players have decided to try a new challenge by moving from one club to another, Soccernet.ng tracks the top Nigerian players’ transfers that have been completed in this 2023 summer transfer window.
William Trook-Ekong (Watford to PAOk)
Troost-Ekong spent the second business half of last season with Salernitana in the Serie A after joining from Watford. The 29-year-old Super Eagles defender has recently signed for Greek club PAOK FC for a £1m transfer fee. He made 68 appearances in the colors of Watford and scored 7 goals.
Peter Olayinka (Slavia Prague to Red Star Belgrade)
The 27-year-old forward has been with Slavia Prague in the Czech Republic for the past five years, where he made 183 appearances for the club’s first team, scoring 50 goals and winning 6 trophies. He has left Slavia as a free agent to sign a 3-year contract with Serbian champions Red Star Belgrade.
I am aware that it’s a step forward and change, although it’s not easy, goes with the job of a football player. This is a new challenge that I have set before myself, Olayinka said
Cyriel Dessers (Cremonese to Rangers)
Cyriel completed his move to Rangers from US Cremonese following the club’s relegation to Serie B. He played 29 games and scored 7 goals for the Italian club before joining the Scottish giants for £5m on four years contract.
I spoke with my teammate from Nigeria’s national team, Leon Balogun, he was very positive about the club, the coach, the people around, the staff, and the city, Dessers said after completing his move to the Scottish giants
Muhamed Tijani(Banik Ostrava to Slavia Prague)
The 36 Lion FC academy product was brought in as a direct replacement for Peter Olayinka who had left the club for Red Star Belgrade. Tijani signed a 5-year contract with Slavia from another Czech side Banik Ostrava for £1.26m according to Transfermarkt. He made 35 appearances and scored 12 goals for Ostrava last season.
Olayinka is a big inspiration for me. The same goes for other Nigerian young players, he has done great things here. It’s a great motivation to follow up on him, Tijani said of his compatriot Peter Olayinka who had spent the previous five years at Slavia Prague
Chiedozie Ogbene (Rotterham to LutonTown)
Chiedozie Ogbene has been with Championship side Rotherham for the past four years, where he made 136 appearances and scored 12 goals. He signed for the Premier League newcomers Luton Town as a free agent.
I’m delighted to be here, it’s funny that you say a Premier League because of my journey and where I’ve been in the last five and a half years, from Limerick FC and the League of Ireland to Luton Town FC in the Premier League. My former coach said it would be one in 200,000. I guess I’m that one.
Although born in Lagos, Nigeria, Ogbene has 15 appearances and 4 goals for the Republic of Ireland.
