The 2024/25 winter transfer window has come and gone, providing clubs with the opportunity to strengthen their squads for the business end of the campaign.
It also offered players who had limited playing time at their respective clubs the chance to seek new opportunities elsewhere, while for others, it was an avenue to move to a bigger club and earn higher wages.
A number of Nigerian players were involved in the transfer frenzy, switching clubs during the window—some on loan, while others moved on permanent deals.
Completesports.com’s ADEBOYE AMOSU presents a list of top Nigerian players who changed clubs during the period.
1. Kelechi Iheanacho (Sevilla to Middlesbrough)
The striker is returning to familiar territory after completing a deadline-day loan move to Sky Bet Championship club Middlesbrough from Spanish outfit Sevilla.
Iheanacho played in the Championship for Leicester City last season, helping the Foxes secure promotion to the Premier League.
The 28-year-old started his professional career in England with Manchester City and spent two years with the Citizens before moving to Leicester City, where he played for seven years.
2. Umar Sadiq (Real Sociedad to Valencia)
Umar Sadiq made the switch from Real Sociedad to Valencia early in the window. The 28-year-old will be looking to regain top form with Los Ches after a difficult spell at Real Sociedad.
The towering forward suffered a cruciate ligament injury in only his third appearance for Real Sociedad after arriving from Almería in 2022 and never found his rhythm before making the move to Valencia.
3. Gift Orban (Olympique Lyon to TSG Hoffenheim)
The 22-year-old officially joined TSG Hoffenheim from Ligue 1 giants Olympique Lyon on 2 January.
Orban endured a tough spell in France, scoring just once in 13 league appearances in his first season at Lyon.
The energetic forward featured in only three league games for Lyon this season before securing his move to Hoffenheim.
He has already scored two goals in four league outings for Christian Ilzer’s side.
4. Bruno Onyemaechi (Boavista to Olympiacos)
Greek Super League giants Olympiacos beat strong competition from Turkish Super Lig outfit Trabzonspor to land Bruno Onyemaechi.
The 25-year-old has spent the majority of his professional career in Portugal, with stints at CD Feirense, Vila Real, and Boavista.
5. Jerome Adams (Montpellier to Sevilla)
The former Flying Eagles striker will be playing for his fourth club in Europe. He was previously on the books of Sogndal and Lillestrøm in Norway, as well as French club Montpellier.
Sevilla had been tracking the 24-year-old while he was at Lillestrøm, but he opted for a move to Montpellier.
The Rojiblancos have finally landed their man, spending €5.5 million to sign him from La Paillade.
6. Chuba Akpom (Ajax to Lille)
The Arsenal academy graduate switched from former European champions Ajax to Ligue 1 outfit Lille this week.
Akpom joined Ajax in August 2023 after a prolific campaign with Middlesbrough in the Championship, where he scored 28 goals in 40 league appearances.
However, he struggled to replicate that form at Ajax, prompting a loan move to Lille.
7. Jide Fatokun (Remo Stars to Al-Merrikh)
The talented midfielder will be playing outside Nigeria for the first time after signing a two-year contract with Sudanese giants Al-Merrikh.
The 26-year-old was a key player for Nigeria Premier Football League (NPFL) club Remo Stars.
Fatokun was part of the Super Eagles B team that qualified for this year’s African Nations Championship.
He featured in both legs of the final qualifying round against Ghana’s Black Galaxies, which Nigeria won 3-1 on aggregate.
8. Emmanuel Dennis (Nottingham Forest to Blackburn Rovers)
The versatile forward failed to feature in an official game for Nottingham Forest in the first half of the campaign. He joined Sky Bet Championship club Blackburn Rovers in the final hours of the winter transfer window.
The former Club Brugge and FC Köln striker now has the opportunity to showcase his quality in a Blackburn Rovers side chasing promotion to the Premier League.
9. Junior Ajayi (Al-Hilal Benghazi, Free Transfer)
Junior Ajayi joined Libyan top club Al-Hilal Benghazi on a free transfer this week. The forward previously played for Egyptian club Smouha SC.
Ajayi, a member of Nigeria’s U-23 team that won a bronze medal at the 2016 Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, signed a short-term contract with Al-Hilal.
10. Christian Nwachukwu (Botev Plovdiv to Sheffield United)
The youngster joined Sky Bet Championship club Sheffield United from Bulgarian club Botev Plovdiv on transfer deadline day.
The 19-year-old signed a contract until 2027, with an option for a two-year extension.
He played a key role in Botev Plovdiv’s Bulgarian Cup triumph last season and gained European experience during the current campaign.
11. Daniel Daga (FC One Rocket to Molde FK)
Daniel Daga will begin his European adventure at Norwegian giants Molde FK. The talented midfielder was on loan at Enyimba from FC One Rocket last season.
The youngster has international experience, having represented Nigeria at the U-20 level in the past.