The January 2025 transfer window across Europe closed on Monday with players joining clubs either on permanent moves or on loan.
Nigerian players were not left out in the moves as they also completed transfers.
Sportingtimes.ng’s KOREDE JAMES profiles 10 Nigerian players who changed clubs this January…
KELECHI IHEANACHO (Sevilla to Middlesbrough)
Kelechi Iheanacho joined English Championship club Middlesbrough on loan from Sevilla on transfer deadline day Monday.
The Super Eagles forward agreed to join the second-tier club with the option to make the transfer permanent in the summer.
The 28-year-old endured a difficult spell in Spain since joining Sevilla from Leicester City last summer, failing to score in nine La Liga appearances.
His only goals for the club came in the Copa del Rey, where he bagged three times.
EMMANUEL DENNIS (Nottingham Forest to Blackburn Rovers)
Emmanuel Dennis completed a loan move to Championship club Blackburn Rovers on the last day of the winter transfer window.
The Super Eaglee striker struggled for game time at Nottingham Forest and would hope to revive his career in the English second tier.
Speaking after completing the loan move, Dennis said he cannot wait to get back to playing football again.
“I’m very, very hungry to play football and I hope we’ll have some great moments together,” he said.
“I’m really happy and I’m ready to give my all for the club, because I really appreciate being brought here.”
AKOR ADAMS (Montepellier to Sevilla)
Akor Adams joined Sevilla from Ligue 1 club Montpellier in a deal worth €5.5 million.
Adams, a forward, has already made his debut for Sevilla after he was introduced late into Saturday’s LaLiga fixture against Getafe, which ended 0-0.
UMAR SADIQ (Real Sociedad to Valencia)
Super Eagles striker Umar Sadiq joined Valencia on loan from Real Sociedad for the remainder of the season.
Sadiq struggled to nail down a starting berth at Real Sociedad since joining the club in 2022, scoring just four goals across 50 games.
GIFT ORBAN (Lyon to Hoffenheim)
Gift Orban joined German Bundesliga club Hoffenheim from French club Olympique Lyon for a reported €9 million fee, with an additional €3 million in potential add-ons.
Orban signed a contract that will keep him at the club until June 2029.
The 22-year-old opened his goals account at the weekend, scoring in Hoffenheim’s 3-1 defeat at Bayer Leverkusen.
CHUBA AKPOM (Ajax to Lille)
Former Arsenal striker Chuba Akpom joined French Ligue 1 outfit Lille on loan from Ajax.
Akpom left the Dutch giants after 18 months having struggled for game time this term.
Before leaving Ajax, he scored three goals in 16 Eredivisie matches this season.
PETER EDOKPOLOR (Galadima FC to Benfica)
Benfica signed 18-year-old Nigerian forward Peter Edokpolor from Galadima Football Club.
According to the Portuguese giants, Edokpolor will join their U-23 side.
Edokpolor was scouted by Benfica last year in Abuja and trained with the team for a while and did enough to convince the club to sign him.
VICTOR UDOH (Royal Antwerp to Southampton)
Young Nigerian forward Victor Udoh joined Southampton from Belgian club Royal Antwerp on the last day of the winter transfer window.
The 20-year-old signed a three-and-a-half-year and will join the Under-21s squad.
He made 28 senior appearances for Antwerp since joining them in 2023 from the Hypebuzz FC academy in Abuja.
MICHAEL KAYODE (Fiorentina to Brentford)
Italy-born Nigerian defender Michael Kayode joined Emglish Premier League outfit Brentford on loan from Fiorentina for the rest of the season.
The deal for the 20-year-old contains the option to be made permanent in the summer.
The Italy Under-21 right-back made 12 appearances for Fiorentina this season, having broken into their side in 2023-2024.
SEUN AKANJI (Sporting Lagos to Lillestrom)
Norwegian club Lillestrom signed Seun Akanji from Nigeria National League (NNL) side Sporting Lagos.
The 16-year-old had been training with the club since mid-January and was given playing time in friendly matches.
Lillestrom explained that before their invitation to Akanji, Sporting Lagos had received offers from several European and Scandinavian clubs, but they managed to convince the youngster to join them.
