The 2025 January transfer window officially closed last night, marking the end of a more than 31-day period of business activities among clubs.
The mid-season opportunity allowed teams to bolster their squads in pursuit of titles and fight for European places in the UEFA Champions League, UEFA Europa League and UEFA Conference League respectively ahead of next season.
As the dust settles on the transfer window, we will delve into the top 7 Nigerian players who made notable moves to new clubs during the transfer window.
1. Kelechi Iheanacho (Sevilla to Middlesbrough)
Kelechi Iheanacho left Sevilla on loan to join Middlesbrough in the English Championship until the end of the season. He signed for Sevilla upon the expiration of his contract with Leicester City in July 2024. Iheanacho featured for Sevilla 11 times, scoring 3 goals in the process.
2. Gift Orban (Lyon to Hoffenheim)
German side, Hoffenheim completed the signing of Gift Orban from Lyon for a reported fee of €9 million, plus €3 million add-ons in a contract valid until 2029 on January 2, 2025. Since joining the club, Orban has recorded 2 goals in 4 Bundesliga games. He also scored 2 goals in 5 appearances for Lyon before making the move.
3. Umar Sadiq (Real Sociedad to Valencia)
Like Iheanacho, 28-year-old striker, Umar Sadiq also completed a loan transfer from Real Sociedad to Valencia until the end of the season. Prior to the move, Sadiq has failed to find the back of the net for Imanol Alguacil’s side in 11 matches across all competitions. However, he has a registered a goal in 3 games in the colours of Valencia.
4. Emmanuel Dennis (Nottingham Forest to Blackburn Rovers)
Emmanuel Dennis also switched clubs on loan from Nottingham Forest to English Championship side, Blackburn Rovers until the end of the season. Dennis struggled for game time at Forest, and had previously gone on loan to Istanbul Basaksehir and Watford before his latest move.
5. Bruno Onyemaechi (Boavista to Olympiakos)
Olympiakos completed the signing of left-back and centre-back, Bruno Onyemaechi from Portuguese side, Boavista for a fee in the region of €2.5 million. Onyemaechi joined Boavista on loan in 2022 with an option to buy, and was eventually signed in 2023. He donned the jersey of Boavista in 48 games and netted twice as a defender.
6. Akor Adams (Montpellier to Sevilla)
Former Flying Eagles star, Akor Admas, signed for Sevilla from French outfit, Montpellier for a reported fee of €5.5million on a four-year deal. Adams has joined his compatriot, Chidera Ejuke, at Sevilla after netting 3 times in 16 games for Montpellier in the current campaign.
7. Victor Udoh (Royal Antwerp to Southampton)
Forward, Victor Udoh signed for Southampton from Royal Antwerp on a three-and-a-half-year contract for an undisclosed fee. Udoh, 20, played for the Belgian outfit 14 times this season before the move; however, he didn’t register a goal. He also played the same number of games last season without finding the back of the net.
“Southampton Football Club is pleased to confirm it has completed the transfer of attacker Victor Udoh from Royal Antwerp, subject to international clearance. The 20-year-old Nigerian forward has signed a three-and-a-half-year contract and now arrives at St Mary’s to continue his development, initially joining the Under-21s squad.
“Udoh has made 28 senior appearances for Belgian top-flight side Antwerp since joining them in 2023 from the Hypebuzz FC academy in Abuja.
“He has also impressed for the youthful Royal Antwerp II side, scoring 12 times in 21 appearances last season. Udoh will link up with his new club once his international clearance is approved,” the club said announcing the signing of the Nigerian player.
