Iheanacho and Other Nigerian Stars Who Secured Transfers on Deadline Day

The European winter transfer window closed last night, following weeks of activity that saw various Nigerian players complete moves. Among them was Kelechi Iheanacho, who departed Sevilla after a six-month stint and secured a loan move to EFL Championship side Middlesbrough. Iheanacho's time at Sevilla didn't go as planned, and the switch to Middlesbrough offers him a chance to reignite his career.

While some countries continue to keep their windows open, the transfer deadline was a flurry of last-minute activity as clubs scrambled to bolster their squads or offload players. Nigerian footballers were active in this deadline day chaos, with many looking for fresh starts or better opportunities. Here’s a look at five Nigerian players who made moves, including Iheanacho:

1. Kelechi Iheanacho

Iheanacho struggled to settle at Sevilla after joining the club on a free transfer from Leicester City in the summer. Despite a solid run at Leicester, his time in Spain was marked by challenges. He has now joined Middlesbrough on loan for the remainder of the season, looking to get his career back on track in the English Championship.

2. Emmanuel Dennis

Dennis, who had been sidelined at Nottingham Forest, also moved to the English Championship, this time with Blackburn Rovers. Having not featured much for Forest, he’ll spend the rest of the season at Blackburn, aiming to rediscover his form.

3. Victor Udoh

Udoh ended his six-month stint at Belgian club Royal Antwerp and joined Premier League struggler Southampton. Despite a lack of goals in 24 appearances for Antwerp, Southampton secured him on deadline day, where he will join the club’s U21 team, adding to the Nigerian contingent in their first team.

4. Chuba Akpom

Akpom, who has Nigerian heritage, enjoyed a successful spell at Dutch club Ajax but has faced a downturn in form this season. He made the move to French Ligue 1 club Lille on loan until the end of the season, seeking to revive his career.

5. Carney Chukwuemeka

Chukwuemeka, who struggled for playing time under both Enzo Maresca and Mauricio Pochettino at Chelsea, made a deadline day move to Borussia Dortmund on loan. The deal includes an option to buy, potentially nearing his £40 million release clause.

These moves highlight a mix of opportunities for Nigerian players in European football, some seeking to re-establish themselves, while others are looking for fresh challenges.