By Korede James
Benfica have signed 18-year-old Nigerian forward Peter Edokpolor from Galadima Football Club.
The Portuguese club confirmed the signing in a statement on Sunday, noting that Edokpolor would not go straight to the senior squad.
“Peter Osayande Edokpolor, 18-year-old forward, was signed by Sport Lisboa e Benfica,” the club stated.
“The player, who came from Galadima Football Club, Nigeria, will be integrated into the Under-23 team.”
According to reports, Edokpolor was scouted by Benfica last year in Abuja, Nigeria.
He had been training with the team for a while and did enough to convince the club hierarchy to offer him a contract.
Founded in February 1904, as Sport Lisboa, Benfica are one of the “Big Three” clubs in Portugal that have never been relegated from Primeira Liga, along with rivals Sporting CP and FC Porto.
Benfica are the most decorated club in Portuguese football with a total of 84 domestic trophies.
Also, they were the first Portuguese club to win the European Cup now known as the UEFA Champions League (1960-1961, 1961-1962 seasons).
