Official: Super Eagles star completes move to Russia Premier League club Rostov

Super Eagles forward Olakunle Olusegun has completed a permanent move to Russian Premier League club FC Rostov, ending his five-year association with FC Krasnodar, Soccernet.ng reports.

The transfer was officially confirmed on Friday, July 17, with Rostov signing the 24-year-old winger on a three-year contract that will keep him at the club until June 30, 2029. Reports in Russia say the deal is worth around €450,000.

Olusegun arrives at Rostov after spending the 2025-26 season on loan at fellow Russian Premier League side Pari Nizhny Novgorod, where he enjoyed regular football. The Nigerian featured in 26 league matches, scoring five goals and adding two assists, before returning briefly to Krasnodar at the end of his loan spell.

The move gives the Super Eagles winger another opportunity to establish himself as a regular starter in the Russian top flight after several seasons split between Krasnodar’s first team and loan spells.

Olusegun first joined Krasnodar’s system in 2021 after leaving Danish club Fremad Amager. He initially impressed with Krasnodar-2, scoring six goals in 19 appearances, before earning promotion to the senior squad in April 2022.

Across four seasons with Krasnodar’s first team, he played 100 matches, scored 12 goals, and produced eight assists in all competitions. During that period, he also helped the club challenge near the top of the Russian Premier League, including a runners-up finish in the 2023-24 campaign.

One of the most memorable moments of his Krasnodar career came in October 2022 when he scored against FC Rostov after just nine seconds. That strike remains the fastest goal in Russian Premier League history, making his move to Rostov an interesting twist. The club itself pointed to that record while announcing his arrival.

Olusegun’s football journey has taken him across several countries. After developing at ABS Ilorin FC in Nigeria, he spent time at Russian development side FDC Vista Gelendzhik, moved to Denmark with Fremad Amager, and later continued his career in Russia, where he has now become an experienced Premier League player.

Olusegun joins a Rostov side hoping to recover from a disappointing 2025-26 Russian Premier League campaign.

The club finished 10th in the 16-team league after collecting 33 points from 30 matches. Rostov recorded eight wins, nine draws and 13 defeats, scoring just 25 goals while conceding 32.

Their biggest problem was at home. Despite playing at the Rostov Arena, they managed only three home victories all season, drawing five and losing seven. While their defence remained relatively organised compared to several teams around them in the table, their attack struggled badly, averaging fewer than one goal per game.

Rostov ended the campaign on May 17 with a narrow 1-0 home defeat to eventual champions Zenit St. Petersburg, with the club aware of the need for more attacking quality ahead of the new season.

That is one reason the club has moved for Olusegun. His pace, direct running and ability to play on either wing offer Rostov another attacking option as they look to improve their goalscoring record.

The transfer could also prove important for Olusegun’s international career. The Ilorin-born star has represented Nigeria from youth level through to the senior team. He starred for the Golden Eaglets at the 2019 Africa U-17 Cup of Nations, scored at the 2019 FIFA U-17 World Cup in Brazil, and later earned promotion to the Super Eagles.

He made his senior Nigeria debut against Russia in an international friendly on June 6 and has since earned two senior caps.

A successful spell at Rostov could strengthen his chances of returning to Eric Chelle’s Super Eagles squad as Nigeria continue preparing for the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers.