The 2026 winter transfer window, which closed on February 2, was a bittersweet period for Nigerian football. While stars like Ademola Lookman and Terem Moffi secured high-profile moves, other Super Eagles players who remained grounded at their current club.

PUNCH Sports put the spotlight on some of these players whose proposed move away from their clubs fell through.

Stanley Nwabali (Chippa United)

Nigeria’s number one goalkeeper was widely expected to leave South Africa after yet another round of AFCON heroics. He had strong interest from Simba SC in Tanzania and several lower-tier European clubs looking for an experienced shot-stopper. Despite the constant buzz surrounding his future, he remains at Chippa United, a club currently battling in the lower half of the South African Premiership.

The widely reported reason Nwabali failed to secure a move stems from Chippa’s high valuation of their most prized asset. Having recently committed to a new contract through 2027, the Chilli Boys were under no financial pressure to sell and reportedly held out for a transfer fee that Simba SC and European suitors found excessive for a 29-year-old playing outside the elite leagues.

Taiwo Awoniyi (Nottingham Forest)

Awoniyi’s situation is particularly tough. Having lost his starting spot at Forest to a crowded strike force featuring Lorenzo Lucca, Igor Jesus, and Chris Wood, he was heavily linked with a loan move back to Mainz 05 or a permanent switch to West Ham. Neither happened. He remains at Forest, where minutes are becoming increasingly scarce, often finding himself as an unused substitute even after finally ending a long, injury-induced goal drought.

With the club deep in a relegation scrap, they were hesitant to let a proven Premier League scorer leave without a replacement, yet they refused to guarantee him the starts he needs. By staying, Awoniyi risks falling further down the pecking order, which is a direct threat to his national team career. Without regular game time, his sharpness, which is his greatest asset, will diminish, making it difficult for the Super Eagles to justify his inclusion ahead of red-hot strikers like Akor Adams and Paul Onuachu or the newly moved Terem Moffi.

Wilfred Ndidi (Besiktas)

The Super Eagles captain was arguably the biggest “almost” of the deadline. Reports confirmed he was “anxious” to return to the Premier League just six months after moving to Turkey. Manchester United held serious talks with Besiktas, but the deal collapsed because United preferred a simple six-month loan to cover injuries, while Besiktas insisted on a loan with a £12m obligation to buy. The Turkish club also turned down a €10m straight offer from Ajax late in the window, which signals their intent to keep their midfield anchor.

Rather than a setback, Ndidi’s stay in Istanbul underscores his immense value to Besiktas, where he has been integrated as a core leader and officially appointed as the club’s vice-captain. The club refused to sanction a move because they view him as a foundational piece of their sporting project and a vital presence in the dressing room. As a result, Ndidi will continue to lead the “Black Eagles” through the remainder of the campaign.

Raphael Onyedika (Club Brugge)

Onyedika was the subject of an intense late-window tug-of-war. German side VfL Wolfsburg submitted a final bid of €20m on deadline day, but Club Brugge firmly rejected it, prioritising their domestic title charge over a mid-season sale. Galatasaray also chased him throughout January but failed to meet Brugge’s strict valuation. After internal discussions, Onyedika agreed to stay until the summer, although it’s a massive disappointment for a player clearly ready for a move to a “Top five” league.

The failure to secure this move means Onyedika must spend another half-season in Belgium, a league he has arguably outgrown. While Club Brugge benefits from his stability, the player misses out on the immediate prestige and financial upgrade of the Bundesliga.

Fisayo Dele-Bashiru (Lazio)

After a promising start in Italy, Dele-Bashiru saw his minutes dwindle toward the end of 2025. In January, several EFL Championship clubs and Turkish Super Lig sides were linked with him, and AFC Bournemouth even submitted a loan deal with an €18m option to buy. Lazio ultimately decided to keep him as “squad depth,” rejecting the Bournemouth bid in the final hours of the window.

Lazio’s decision to block the move is a classic case of a club protecting its interests at the expense of the player’s development. By keeping him as an insurance policy for their own tactical rotations, they have effectively consigned him to the bench for the next four months. For Dele-Bashiru, the implication is a total loss of match rhythm. After proving his worth at Hatayspor and earning his way into the Nigerian national setup, a prolonged period of inactivity at Lazio could cost him his hard-earned spot in the Super Eagles’ midfield rotation.

Alhassan Yusuf (New England Revolution)

Despite being a bright spot for the Super Eagles at AFCON 2023, Yusuf remains in the MLS, a decision that has already cost him a place on the 2025 AFCON team. During January, there was significant interest from Ligue 1 side Strasbourg and Verona in Italy. The Revolution, however, blocked a winter exit, viewing him as essential for their 2026 campaign, which begins this month.

By staying in a league that is currently in its off-season or just starting, the Revolution have stalled his progress while his direct competitors for the national team, like Tochukwu Nnadi, have secured high-profile moves to Marseille.

Peter Olayinka (Free Agent)

Peter Olayinka currently finds himself in a difficult professional limbo as one of the most high-profile Nigerian free agents left without a club. His situation took a sharp turn in late October 2025 when he mutually terminated his contract with Red Star Belgrade, a move intended to give him the freedom to secure a fresh start in a more competitive league. However, Olayinka’s timing was unfortunate as he has been navigating a long road to recovery after a serious Achilles tendon rupture that required surgery.

Akinkunmi Amoo (Shanghai Jiading Huilong)

The “Little Messi” is arguably in the toughest spot of all. After his career stalled in Europe following legal and injury issues, Amoo spent 2025 in the Chinese second tier to rebuild his fitness and reputation. Throughout January, there were reports of a potential return to Scandinavia with Hammarby or a move to the Latvian league. No deal was reached before the deadline, leaving the 23-year-old in the Chinese lower leagues.