Soccer
Josh Maja ahead of the Sky Bet Championship match West Bromwich Albion vs Coventry City at The Hawthorns Copyright: ImagoxGarethxEvans/NewsxImagesx
Super Eagles striker Josh Maja is on the verge of sealing a return to French football after agreeing a move to Ligue 1 side Le Havre, Soccernet.ng reports.
Maja has been a free agent since the end of last season, following the expiration of his contract at EFL Championship club West Bromwich Albion.
According to L’Equipe, Le Havre are closing in on the signing of the 27-year-old on a free transfer, with Maja expected to put pen to paper on a two-year contract that includes the option of a further year.
The French club have identified the Nigerian as a key addition to their attack after the departure of Issa Soumare to fellow Ligue 1 outfit Rennes.
Maja boasts a wealth of experience across English and French football, having scored 81 career goals in 291 appearances for club and country.
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The Sunderland academy graduate previously enjoyed a productive spell in France with Bordeaux where he found the back of the net 29 times in 93 appearances.
His impending move marks a return to familiar surroundings after three years with West Brom, where he registered 19 goals across all competitions.
Although he played a bit-part role during the 25/26 Championship campaign and scored four league goals in 40 appearances, the Nigerian still attracted interest from several English clubs before opting for a fresh challenge back in Ligue 1.
Le Havre’s pursuit of Maja shows the club’s desire to add proven quality and experience to their frontline ahead of the new season. Having narrowly secured their Ligue 1 status last term, the Normandy outfit will be hoping the Nigerian can provide the goals needed to steer them further away from another relegation battle.
For Maja, the move is definitely an opportunity to reignite his career in an environment where he has previously thrived. The Super Eagles forward will be aiming to make an immediate impact at Le Havre when the new campaign kicks off in France.
The 27-year-old marksman has one cap for the Super Eagle of Nigeria, and that came in a friendly game against Ukraine in 2019 which ended 2-2. Gernot Rohr was Nigeria’s coach at the time.
Kelvin Omachonu
Kelvin Omachonu is a professional football columnist and sports writer with over half a decade of experience covering major events and delivering captivating, analytically-driven stories.
A graduate of the University of Ibadan, he is fueled by a profound dedication to sports journalism and the beautiful game. His insights have previously been featured in respected outlets, including IndyPress UI, UCJ UI Newshive NG, Sportpremi, and a few others.
Away from work, Kelvin is an avid fan of basketball, enjoys a great movie, and is always discovering new music.
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