Nigerian Players Transfer Round Up: Awoniyi ends Liverpool nightmare, Chukwueze to the Premier League?

This is Soccernet.ng’s daily round-up of all the transfer news, confirmed moves, rumours and speculations surrounding Nigerian footballers. Check back every day to stay informed.

Wednesday, July 21

Awoniyi leaves Liverpool finally

The former Golden Eaglets striker has completed a permanent move from Liverpool to Union Berlin after spending last season on loan at the club.

The deal brings an end to Awoniyi’s five-year stay at Liverpool, even though he never got the chance to play for the club.

Chukwueze to Everton?

The Toffees are looking at Samuel Chukwueze as a potential replacement for James Rodriguez, who could return to Real Madrid to link up with his former boss, Carlo Ancelotti.

Onyeka is a bee

Meanwhile, Frank Onyeka has joined Premier League new boys Brentford from FC Midtjylland after receiving a work permit and passing his medical.

Sevilla pull out of Sadiq race but Valencia are interested

Umar Sadiq’s future is still undecided after Sevilla pulled out of the race to sign the former Rangers star. The former Nigeria U-23 striker had an exceptional season last campaign, but Sevilla are not ready to pay Almeria’s asking price.

However, Valencia are interested in the former AS Roma star’s services. But the 2003/2004 La Liga champions will have to do more to get their man after their initial offer was rejected by Almeria.

Omeruo wants out.

Meanwhile, another Nigerian player Kenneth Omeruo wants to leave the Spanish second division, and he has made his move by letting Leganes know he wants to leave the club.

Nmecha leaves City

Nigeria-eligible German youngster Lucas Nmecha has completed an £11m move to German Bundesliga side Wolfsburg.

Nmecha spent last season on loan at Anderlecht, who were also interested in signing him, but could not afford to sign him permanently.

Success set for Italy return

In another transfer news, forgotten Super Eagles star Isaac Success is set to join Serie A side Udinese on a loan deal from Watford.

The Nigerian international was previously a youth player with The White and Blacks. The deal between the two parties should not come as a surprise as they are both owned by the Pozzo family.

Salernitana want two Nigerian stars

Meanwhile, Salernitana, another Serie A side, are interested in Simy Nwankwo and Joel Obi as they get set to play in the top-flight after 23 years.

Everton to sign Okoronkwo

Everton are set to sign the highly-rated Francis Okoronkwo from Sunderland. As per the DailyMail, the Toffees will pay £1m (₦569m) to sign the brilliant teenager from the Black Cats.

Okoronkwo was born in England, but he’s eligible to play for Nigeria through his parents. He’s yet to represent the Three Lions at any level.

Udinese sign Udogie

Meanwhile, in Italy, Udinese have completed the signing of another Nigeria-eligible youngster Destiny Udogie from Hellas Verona.

As per Football Italia, the initial deal is a loan deal with an obligation to buy at the end of the season. The 18-year-old was born in Italy and has represented the Azzurris from the u16-u19 level.

However, he’s also eligible to play for the Super Eagles through his Nigerian heritage.

Ugbo set for Chelsea exit

Genk are already preparing for life after Paul Onuachu after reports emerged that they are in talks with Chelsea over the transfer of Ike Ugbo.

Nwakali gets another chance

Kelechi Nwakali won’t get the chance to return to England, at least for now, following Huesca’s decision to keep him in their squad for next season

The former Golden Eaglets striker has been linked with a move to Bournemouth and Leeds United, but he’s now set to stay in Spain.

Agu to the middle-east

Forgotten Super Eagles midfielder Mikel Agu could be the latest Nigerian star after John Mikel Obi to move to the middle-east. The 28-year-old is close to leaving Vitória de Guimarães for an unnamed Arabian club.

Sivasspor Nigerian connection

Meanwhile, Sivasspor have completed the signing of Leke James, bringing the total number of Nigerians at the club to two.

Spurs want Nigerian youngster

Premier League side Tottenham Hotspur could make a move for highly-rated Nigerian star Paul Mukairu. The Lilywhites are looking at potential replacements for Harry Kane, and Mukairu is one of their targets.

Okoye, a man in demand.

Maduka Okoye could leave Sparta Rotterdam just a year after signing for the club as Anderlecht and AZ Alkmaar are interested in his services.

Yusuf joins Antwerp

Meanwhile, another Nigerian prospect Alhassan Yusuf has left his Swedish club IFK Goteburg to sign for Royal Antwerp in the Belgian top-flight.

Kayode stays

Forgotten Super Eagles star Kayode Olanrewaju has extended his stay at Sivasspor. Olanrewaju joined The Brave Ones on a loan deal from Shakhtar Donetsk last season, and both parties have agreed to extend the deal for another season.

Okonkwo is Arsenal’s new Nigerian star

Arsenal have tied down one of their brightest prospects Arthur Okonkwo to a new long-term contract. Okonkwo played for the Gunners U-23 and U-18 youth side in the last two seasons, but he has been promoted to the first team ahead of the new season.

Watford’s Nigerian family

Oghenekaro Etebo will hope to put his career back on track again after he joined Watford from Stoke City on a season-long loan deal.

Etebo spent last season on loan at Galatasaray, but he never achieved much during his time at the club. The Nigerian has struggled in the last two years, but the move to Watford offers him another opportunity to get back to top form.

Meanwhile, Etebo is not the only player of Nigerian descent Watford signed on Friday as they also brought in Scottish-Nigerian forward Dapo Mebude. The Hornets now have five Nigerians in their ranks and one Scotland youth star of Nigerian origin.

Olise is an Eagle, but not a Super Eagle

In another transfer news, Super Eagles target and invitee Michael Olise joined Crystal Palace from Reading. The Eagles have signed the youngster on a five-year deal.

Olise’s move to Selhurst Park will see him link up with another Nigerian national team target Eberechi Eze under Patrick Viera, who is the new Crystal Palace coach.

Meanwhile, former Sheffield Wednesday defender Osaze Urhoghide has completed his move to Celtic in the Scottish top-flight.

Udinese interested in Simy

One of Nigeria’s best players last season, Simy Nwankwo, could be set for a move to Udinese. The 29-year-old is an option for the White and Blacks, who are looking to bolster their attacking options ahead of the new season.

Simy suffered the disappointment of relegation with Crotone last season, but he’s expected to leave the club after scoring 20 league goals.

Mikel wants the oil money

Former Super Eagles captain John Mikel Obi has left Stoke City just weeks after signing a new one-year contract extension at the club.

The Chelsea legend has left the Bet 365 stadium to sign a one-year deal with Kuwait Sporting Club in the middle east.

Ebuehi’s Venice connection

Super Eagles right-back Tyronne Ebuehi joined Serie A new boys Venezia FC on a season-long loan deal from Benfica with an option to buy permanently.

It’s the second consecutive loan spell for Ebuehi after his impressive stint with FC Twente in the just-concluded season.

Ebuehi is not the only Nigerian that completed a loan move to a new club. Cologne flop Toluwalase Emmanuel Arokodare also joined Ligue 2 side Amiens on a two-year loan deal from Valmeiras with an option to sign permanently.

Hornets chance for Dennis

Other deals include Emmanuel Dennis transfer from Club Brugge to Watford. The 23-year-old joined the newly-promoted Premier League side after a disappointing season in Belgium and Germany.

Moses is a meat

Meanwhile, Victor Moses has joined Spartak Moscow on a permanent deal after spending the just-concluded season on a loan deal from Chelsea.

Slavia Prague adds another Nigerian

Also, Slavia Prague have completed the signing of former Nigerian U-23 star Ubong Moses Ekpai on a three-year deal.

Ekpai joins Peter Olayinka, who is the other Nigerian star at the club.

Maduka on Dortmund’s radar

Borussia Dortmund are targeting British-Nigerian youngster Noni Madueke as a potential replacement for Jadon Sancho, while former Arsenal player Chuks Aneke joined Birmingham City on a two-year deal.

In other transfer rumours, Tottenham Hotspur are interested in Victor Osimhen as a potential replacement for Harry Kane, but the Nigerian international and Napoli have an understanding that he’s not going anywhere.

Onyekuru dilemma.

Henry Onyekuru is on the verge of rejoining Galatasaray from Monaco despite interest from Greek Champions Olympiacos.

Onuachu’s next destination unclear

Paul Onuachu has also been linked with a big-money move to Watford. The 27-year-old is expected to leave Genk after a record-breaking season, and Watford are among the clubs monitoring his situation.

Watford are not the only Premier League club interested in his services, as Arsenal are also reportedly monitoring his situation.

Daka to push Iheanacho out

Meanwhile, Kelechi Iheanacho could leave Leicester City even though he just signed a new contract that keeps at the club until 2024.

The Foxes just signed Patson Daka from RB Salzburg, which increases competition for places in Leicester’s attack. Leicester could also consider selling the Nigerian to recoup part of the money they spent on Daka.

Chukwueze to Wanda Metropolitano

In Spain, reports say that La Liga champions Atletico Madrid could make cash plus a player offer to Villarreal for the services of Super Eagles winger Samuel Chukwueze.

Chukwueze has a 100m euros release clause, but Los Rojiblancos hope to pay less and offer a player to the Yellow Submarines.

Nwubani signs first professional contract

In other transfer news, Nigerian youngster Keleb Nwubani has signed his first professional contract with German side TuS Erndtebrück in the Oberliga Westfalen.

Nwubani expressed his delight at the new deal in a post on his Instagram page.