While many moves are hailed as perfect and an upgrade on a player’s former club, others are deemed uninspiring and an obvious downgrade for the player involved.
The summer transfer window is one of the most important periods in the European football calendar. Aside from ushering in a new football season — satiating the hunger and longing of match-deprived and action-starved supporters of football clubs who can’t wait to see their teams on the pitch again after a three-month break — it also offers fans and football aficionados a glimpse into what the next ten months hold for their teams.
The summer transfer window gives teams across Europe and elsewhere the opportunity to correct the mistakes of previous seasons and set a realistic goal for the new one through selling or loaning out players deemed surplus to requirements and bringing in new players that will help in achieving their objectives and meeting their targets at the end of the season.
As with previous seasons, the summer transfer window for the 2025/2026 season was a beehive of activity with thousands of players changing clubs and moving in different directions. Among this multitude of players switching football allegiance are Nigerian players. Nigerian players’ movement in the closed transfer window has not escaped public scrutiny and analysis by pundits and lovers of the round leather game. While many moves are hailed as perfect and an upgrade on a player’s former club, others are deemed uninspiring and an obvious downgrade for the player involved.
In this article, we will take a look at how Nigerian footballers fared in the transfer market and the circumstances surrounding some of these transfers as the curtain is drawn on this year’s summer transfer window, ending months of speculations, anticipation, drama and last-minute surprises that kept fans on a tenterhook.
Victor Osimhen – Galatasaray
Osimhen finally secured a permanent move to Galatasaray after a brilliant 2024/25 season on loan at the Turkish club. The previous summer window had seen the splendid and fantastic relationship between Osimhen and Napoli turn sour after a transfer away from the club became a protracted and embarrassing saga. It was looking like he would secure a move to one of England’s top clubs but the move to Chelsea fell through. He would later secure a loan move to Galatasaray. He scored 37 goals and recorded seven assists for Galatasaray. His sensational loan spell earned the striker a permanent move to the Turkish giant from Napoli for a huge £65m fee.
Victor Boniface – Werder Bremen (loan)
His move is one of those many viewed as a downgrade. Boniface had a tremendous breakout season with Leverkusen during the 2023/2024 season when the team won the German title, Bundesliga, unbeaten. However, after the success and highs of that season, he has been beset by injuries which have significantly reduced his playing time, effectively falling down the pecking order in the team. A move to AC Milan was in the works but the transfer collapsed after he reportedly failed his medical test. Leverkusen eventually decided to allow the striker to move to Werder Bremen on loan.
Tolu Arokodare – Wolverhampton Wanderers
For many African players, not least those from Nigeria, a move to the English Premier League is considered a career upgrade and a dream come true. Arokodare had an exceptional season with Genk in 2024/25. He scored the most goals in the Belgian First Division top scorer, netting 21 times. He scored 23 and assisted five in 45 appearances across all competitions.
He was a subject of interest from a top European club throughout the summer, the prolific forward eventually secured a late move to join Wolverhampton Wanderers for a reported £23m.
Christantus Uche – Crystal Palace (loan)
Uche’s stories are those of hard work, diligence, and grace. He was playing for the B team of Moralo in the Spanish third division three seasons ago before he was signed by Cuenta for €800 in 2023. Uche had a breakout campaign in 2024/25 for Getafe, scoring four and assisting six in his first 33 appearances in a top-flight league. A key aspect of his game is his ability to play multiple positions efficiently. His versatility also caught the eye of several top clubs in Europe who jostled for his services.
He moved to Crystal Palace on loan on deadline day after the London club beat a host of Premier League clubs for his signature.
Wilfred Ndidi – Besiktas
The midfielder joined the Turkish club after many years at Leicester City. The move followed Foxes’ relegation from the Premier League last season, prompting the player to ply his trade somewhere else.
Kelechi Iheanacho – Celtic
The Super Eagles forward signed for Celtic as a free agent after his contract with Sevilla was terminated by mutual consent on transfer deadline day.
The Scottish champions were among three teams jostling for the service of the 28-year-old former Leicester player.
Moses Simon – Paris FC
Simon tantalised and mesmerised Nantes fans with his dazzling footwork, outrageous feints and goals. After six years at the club, the forward joined Paris FC. The pacy attacker has already scored two and assisted one in his first three matches.
Gift Orban – Hellas Verona (loan)
Orban has not lived up to the prospect and flash of brilliance shown in the early years of his career, but the forward will aim to make good on his potential with a loan move to Hellas Verona.
Samuel Chukwueze – Fulham (loan)
Chukwueze secured a loan move to Fulham on deadline day. Having struggled to find his spark in recent years, the winger will hope to live up to the billing and reach the potential that people expect him to have in the Premier League.
Fisayo Dele-Bashiru – Lazio
Dele-Bashiru had a tremendous spell at Lazio last season, including scoring five and assisting three in 29 appearances, and the Italian club secured his permanent signature this summer.
Paul Onuachu – Trabzonspor
The lanky forward joined the Turkish club from Southampton. The move followed the relegation of the Saints from the English Premier League last season.
Bright Osayi-Samuel – Birmingham City
Osayi-Samuel joined the newly promoted EFL Championship club from Fenerbahce after spending four years with the Turkish club.
A list of the rest of the transfers involving Nigerian players:
Cyriel Dessers – Panathinaikos
Henry Onyekuru – Genclerbirligi
Jordan Torunarigha – Hamburger SV
Gabriel Osho – Cardiff City
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