Soccer
Raphael Onyedika celebrates after scoring for Club Brugge. Photo credit: Imago
Nigeria midfielder Raphael Onyedika added another major trophy to his growing career collection after helping Club Brugge win the 2025-26 Belgian Pro League title on Thursday night, Soccernet.ng reports.
The Belgian giants secured the championship after a tense 2-2 draw away to KV Mechelen, finishing ahead of closest rivals Royale Union Saint-Gilloise with one game still left to play.
Club Brugge entered the final stretch of the season under huge pressure after finishing behind Union SG during the regular campaign. Union had collected 66 points, while Brugge ended the first phase with 63 points. However, Belgium’s playoff system halved the totals before the six-team Championship Playoff began, giving Brugge another chance to fight back.
That opportunity was taken brilliantly by the champions. While Union SG dropped important points against Gent and Sint-Truiden, Brugge produced a powerful winning run at exactly the right moment. Victories away to Gent and Anderlecht pushed them back into the title race before their massive 5-0 victory over Union SG at the Jan Breydel Stadium completely changed the momentum of the championship battle.
Against Mechelen on Thursday, Greek winger Christos Tzolis opened the scoring in the 16th minute before Nicolò Tresoldi doubled the lead shortly after half-time. Mechelen fought back late in the game and eventually forced a 2-2 draw after an 86th-minute own goal, but the single point was enough for Brugge to officially secure their 20th Belgian league title.
Onyedika was an unused substitute in the match, though. But before falling out of favour at the tail-end of the campaign, the former FC Midtjylland star was at the centre of Brugge’s successful run, with his energy, tackling, positioning and calm passing key to Brugge controlling difficult matches throughout the season.
Soccer Onyedika’s trophy haul continues to grow
Since arriving from FC Midtjylland in 2022, Onyedika has developed into one of the most important midfielders in Belgian football.
The 25-year-old has now won six major trophies during his senior career. Four of those titles have come with Club Brugge, including two Belgian Pro League crowns, the Belgian Cup and the Belgian Super Cup. Before moving to Belgium, he also won the Danish league title and Danish Cup with Midtjylland.
This season, Onyedika again showed why several European clubs are monitoring him closely. The Nigerian international made 30 league appearances, starting 22 of those, scored once and recorded a 90% pass accuracy. He also continued to prove himself on the European stage as Club Brugge again reached the knockout rounds of the UEFA Champions League.
Reports in Belgium suggest the midfielder could leave Brugge this summer after rejecting a contract extension. Premier League clubs including Aston Villa and West Ham United are believed to be following his situation closely, while clubs in Italy and Germany are also interested.
Onyedika’s strong club form has also strengthened his place in the Nigeria Super Eagles squad. He recently helped the Super Eagles finish third at the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations in Morocco and remains one of the first names included in Nigeria’s midfield ahead of the next international window.
Imhonlamhen
Imhonlamhen is a football writer and editor at Soccernet.ng with over six years’ experience shaping its editorial voice. A lifelong Arsenal and Super Eagles fan, he combines engineering precision with training in journalism and digital media. He has covered four AFCONs and two Women’s AFCON tournaments, specialising in Super Eagles history and tracking Nigerian players worldwide, while keeping a close eye on the NPFL and emerging homegrown talents.
Read MoreImhonlamhen