By Victor Kanayo
Up to four Nigerian-born footballers have more or less sealed good deals to leave their various clubs in Europe, in search of greener pastures elsewhere.
HeritageTimes HT in this report, outlines these players who have either joined their new clubs or are on the verge of doing so in the last 24 hours.
Carney Chukwuemeka
Chelsea have reached an agreement to sign Aston Villa teenager Carney Chukwuemeka for £20m.
The midfielder, 18, was left out of Villa’s pre-season tour to Australia after refusing to sign a new contract, which expires next summer.
Chukwuemeka, who starred for England in their Under-19 European Championship triumph last month, made 12 Premier League appearances for Villa last term.
He would become Chelsea’s third signing of the summer.
La Liga giants Barcelona, Serie A champions AC Milan and Bundesliga side Borussia Dortmund were all linked with Chukwuemeka.
Chelsea’s deal can be seen as a coup as he is one of the Premier League’s brightest young prospects.
The Blues and Villa both confirmed Chukwuemeka has been given permission to travel to London to discuss personal terms and undergo a medical.
Victor Boniface
Super Eagles hopeful Victor Boniface has dumped Norwegian champions Bodø Glimt for Belgian Jupiler League side Royale Union Saint Gilloise in a deal worth ₦900 million.
The Nigerian striker has been brilliant for the Eliteserien champions since he joined two years ago, and he has sealed a move to a bigger club.
Boniface has been brilliant since he joined Bodø Glimt in 2020. The Nigerian striker has registered 23 goals and eight assists in 66 appearances.
This season, the 21-year-old has been on fire. Boniface broke a 15-year record in July after his hattrick for Bodø Glimt in their 3-0 thrashing of Klaksvik in the Champions League preliminaries.
In all competitions, Boniface has registered 13 goals in 21 appearances for Bodø Glimt.
Boniface joins the Belgian side in a deal worth €2 million( ₦900 million), on a three-year contract, with the option of a one-year extension.
The striker has never played for the Super Eagles. But he would look to follow the footsteps of Nigerian superstars who have made their names whilst in the Jupiler League.
Ademola Lookman
Nigerian International, Ademola Lookman, has arrived in Italy ahead of his permanent transfer to Serie A club, Atalanta.
Lookman is expected to undergo medicals with the official announcement to be made afterwards.
Atalanta has reached an agreement with RB Leipzig for a fee of around £15m for the winger.
“Atalanta is now set to sign Ademola Lookman from RB Leipzig, the agreement reached is for a fee around €15m. The player is in Italy to undergo medicals and then sign the contract, transfer market expert, “Fabrizio Romano tweeted on Wednesday morning.
Sadiq Umar
Umar Sadiq is not guaranteed his continuity at UD Almería next season, after the club received an offer of 25 million euros for the 25-year-old Nigerian striker on Tuesday.
His representative agency, the CAA Base, has also received a contract proposal to convince the footballer, according to what FútbolFantasy has learned, surpassing the record that he now receives in the rojiblanca entity.
Club and player will study the proposal of Bundesliga side Borussia Dortmund.
Villarreal, Real Sociedad and Valencia have been linked with the former AS Roma forward during the current summer transfer window.
The Nigerian, 25, has enjoyed a long and well-travelled career despite his relative youth but has really thrived since joining Almeria in the summer of 2020. He has contributed 41 goals and 19 assists in 81 appearances across all competitions for the Andalusian outfit and earned seven caps for his country.
