Soccer
Gift Orban joins Hellas Verona [Photo credit/Hellas Veron on X]
Super Eagles invitee Gift Orban has completed a loan move to Serie A side Hellas Verona from Bundesliga outfit Hoffenheim, Soccernet.ng reports.
The deal, which includes an option for Verona to make the switch permanent at the end of the season, is his fourth transfer move in just 31 months since leaving Stabæk.
Orban began his professional journey at Stabæk in Norway’s second division in 2022. In Norway, Orban scored 16 goals and provided seven assists to fire the club back into the Eliteserien.
That form quickly attracted interest from abroad, with the Belgian side KAA Gent securing his signature in January 2023.
In Belgium, Orban scored a brace on his league debut against Westerlo and later became the fastest hat-trick scorer in UEFA competition history, netting three goals in under four minutes against Istanbul Başakşehir.
The Togolese-Nigerian finished his debut season with an astonishing 20 goals in 22 games.
In January 2024, Orban moved to Olympique Lyonnais, where he registered five goals across Ligue 1 and the Coupe de France. Twelve months later, he switched to Germany to join Hoffenheim, where he scored four times in 13 Bundesliga appearances.
Soccer Hellas Verona Deal Confirmed
Now, eight months after arriving in Germany, the 23-year-old has been unveiled by Hellas Verona. According to reports, the Italian club will pay a €1 million loan fee and cover his full wages, with the option to buy set at €9 million.
Hellas Verona confirmed the deal in a statement: “Hellas Verona FC extends a warm welcome to Gift, wishing him a future full of personal and professional success in the Gialloblù shirt.”
BENVENUTO A VERONA GIFT! #WelcomeOrban #WeAreHellas #DaiVerona pic.twitter.com/SkHM1KvDoh
— Hellas Verona FC (@HellasVeronaFC) August 27, 2025
Orban will now aim to settle quickly in Italy and deliver the goals that could help Verona secure their Serie A ambitions.
Ayomide Oguntimehin
Ayomide Oguntimehin is a CAF-accredited sports journalist and Editor at Soccernet.ng, with a proven track record in conducting interviews with Super Eagles stars such as William Troost-Ekong, Taiwo Awoniyi, Bright Osayi-Samuel, Ademola Lookman, and many others. He has also made a significant impact in breaking transfer news stories.
Grounded in video editing, video journalism, social media management, and content strategy, Ayomide brings a wealth of expertise to his work.
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