Soccer
Super Eagles duo Ademola Lookman and Terem Moffi headlined a busy January transfer window for Nigerian footballers, Soccernet.ng reports.
Several Super Eagles stars and rising talents secured moves across Europe and beyond.
Nigerian players were once again in demand as clubs in La Liga, Premier League, Bundesliga, and even Ligue 1, reshuffled their squads midway through the season.
The winter window saw blockbuster transfers, strategic loans and career-defining steps for Nigerian football players in the European market.
Here are the most notable Nigerian moves completed during the January transfer window.
Ademola Lookman (Atlético Madrid)
Lookman sealed the biggest Nigerian transfer of the window after completing a move from Atalanta to Atlético Madrid in a deal reported to be worth around €35 million.
The Super Eagles winger joins Diego Simeone’s side following an impressive spell in Serie A, where he established himself as one of Atalanta’s key attacking outlets.
Terem Moffi (FC Porto)
Moffi left OGC Nice on loan to join Portuguese giants FC Porto in search of more regular playing time after the saga that occurred with Nice fans. Meanwhile, on paper, the striker’s move is seen as a strategic step to revive his form and compete for trophies, with Porto securing an option to make the deal permanent at the end of the season.
Rafiu Durosinmi (Pisa)
Durosinmi completed a move from Viktoria Plzeň to Italian side Pisa in a transfer reported to be worth around €9 million. Meanwhile, since joining the club, Durosinmi has notched a goal and provided one assist in three Serie A appearances.
Sadiq Umar (Valencia)
Sadiq Umar switched La Liga clubs after leaving Real Sociedad for Valencia on a permanent deal worth €5 million. The striker will be hoping to rediscover his best form at Mestalla after an injury-hit spell, with Valencia looking to strengthen their attacking options for the remainder of the season.
Tochukwu Nnadi (Olympique Marseille)
Young midfielder Tochukwu Nnadi secured a move to Ligue 1 side Olympique Marseille from Zulte Waregem in a deal reported to be around €6 million. The transfer is a major step up in his career, with Marseille banking on his potential to develop into a key player in France’s top flight.
Sani Suleiman (RB Leipzig)
Highly rated teenager Sani Suleiman joined Bundesliga club RB Leipzig from AS Trenčín in a deal estimated at about €5 million.
The 19-year-old defender is viewed as a long-term project for the German side, who have built a reputation for nurturing young talent.
Uchenna Ogundu (Augsburg)
Ogundu made the move from Alanyaspor to Bundesliga outfit Augsburg, signing a contract till 2031 with the German club for a fee in the region of €4.50 million.
The transfer gives the Nigerian forward a new platform in one of Europe’s top leagues as he looks to establish himself at the elite level.
Fast, talented, and versatile in attack!
FCA has signed 19-year-old Nigerian striker Uchenna Ogundu from Turkish first division side Alanyaspor.
He has signed a contract until 2031! ✍️ pic.twitter.com/hUEC95iilB
— FC Augsburg (@FCA_World) February 2, 2026
Chibuike Nwaiwu (Trabzonspor)
Completing the list of notable moves, Chibuike Nwaiwu joined Turkish side Trabzonspor as part of a wider influx of Nigerian players changing clubs during the winter window. His transfer adds to the growing Nigerian presence in the Turkish Super Lig.
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