Balogun, Shehu top list of Eagles without nest

The2022 transfer window is ongoing and there’s already plenty of excitement surrounding the new signings from the Nigerian perspective.

The summer transfer window opened on June 10 and will slam shut on September 1, 2022.

From Taiwo Awoniyi joining newly promoted Premier League club, Nottingham Forest from Union Berlin for a club-record fee in the region of £17.5m to Calvin Bassey who became Nigeria’s most expensive defender in the wake of his move to Ajax for a club-record fee that could rise to around £23m last Wednesday, Nigerian players have been making transfer moves to boost their careers.

Other Eagles stars that also made summer moves include Joe Aribo, Jamilu Collins, Chidera Ejuke, Kelechi Nwakali, Tyronne Ebuehi and Joel Obi.

But there are some unattached Nigerians yet to sign new deals in this current window. Below are some of them.

Leon Balogun

Despite helping Glasgow Rangers clinch the Scottish Cup, Leon Balogun was released by the Gers two years after he joined the club from Brighton and Hove Albion.

The Ibrox side claimed the trophy for the first time in 13 years. Two goals in three extra-time minutes by substitutes Ryan Jack and Scott Wright against Hearts eased the pain of their Europa League final defeat four days earlier. The 33-year-old defender made 65 appearances and scored twice making three assists before his departure.

Abdullahi Shehu

29-year-old defender, Abdullahi became a free agent after his contract with Omonoia Nicosia ran out. The Nigeria international helped the club win their 15th Cypriot Cup.

Omonia Nicosia needed penalties after extra-time to defeat Ethnikos Achna in the Cypriot Cup final that took place on May 25. The versatile player previously played in Kuwait, Turkey, and Portugal after he left the shores of the country.

Ogenyi Onazi

Expect a lot more headlines surrounding this man in the coming weeks – Ogenyi Onazi is one of the top transfer targets from some European clubs in the 2022 transfer window.

The 29-year-old midfielder, yet to activate his option of an extension at his Saudi Arabian club Al Adalah helped the club secure promotion to the top flight league.  Al Adalah played out a goalless draw at Jeddah to end the season in second position with 66 points, same as champions Al Khaleej. Onazi was been an important part of the team since he joined up.

Anthony Nwakaeme

Nwakaeme, who spent four seasons with Turkish outfit Trabzonspor, scoring 41 goals and adding a further 36 assists in 120 Super Lig appearances, is also a free agent.

The 33-year-old operates mostly on the left-wing but is more than capable of playing across the front-line and in the number-ten role. His career in Europe has spanned 12 years featuring for six clubs within Romania, Israel and Turkey and has had one cap for Nigeria.

Following his release from Trabzonspor, according to reports from Turkey, Hull are interested in gaining the services of the 33-year-old this summer.

The winger was able to score 13 goals in 30 appearances for Trabzonspor who won the title last season since 1984. It was the Black Sea Storm’s seventh title – they won five in a row from 1975-76 and one more in 1983-84. They are one of only six teams ever to win the Turkish title. Besiktas earned the trophy last season after Istanbul Basaksehir’s historic first title win in 2019-20.

Ramon Azeez

Super Eagles midfielder Ramon Azeez has been without a club since he left Granada in September 2011 after he terminated his contract by mutual consent.

Azeez, had nine months left on his contract, prior to his exit at the club.

The 29-year-old had returned to Granada after a six-month loan spell at Segunda club Cartagena last season, where he helped the club avoid relegation to the third-tier, featuring in 16 games. On his return to Granada, Azeez reportedly refused the loan options the club offered him. A former youth international, Azeez, has been in Spanish football since 2011, rising through the ranks at Almeria.

Sly Igbonu

Former Midtjylland forward, Sylvester Igbonu, left FK Nizhny Novgorod four weeks after he signed a one-year deal with the Russian club over fear of his safety in March. The 31-year-old became the first Nigerian footballer to leave the Russian Premier League as a result of the ongoing Russian invasion of Ukraine, taking advantage of a FIFA rule that allows players to suspend or terminate their contracts tied to Ukrainian and Russian clubs for the rest of the 2021/22 season. He made only two appearances for the club before his departure.

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