Where 're the Big Moves for Nigerian players?, Segun Solanke queries on summer transfers

Where 're the Big Moves for Nigerian players?, Segun Solanke queries on summer transfers

By Akeem Busari

President of Provazios Sports Management Company, Segun Solanke, is unhappy with the 'accept anything', situations of Nigerian professional footballers.

Speaking with journalists, Solanke, who has joined the fray to contest for the NFF President position, in the elective congress slated for September, 2026, expressed his disappointment that Nigerian players no longer attract the bigger European clubsides.

"Today, established Super Eagles stars now settle for mid-table and relegation-threatened clubs and as stakeholders, we must ask ourselves, what has happened to Nigeria's football production line?" he asked rhetorically.

"The European transfer market is in full swing, but one disturbing trend is becoming increasingly difficult to ignore. And that's the big-money moves involving Nigerian footballers appear to be disappearing.

"At a time when Nigeria is dreaming of qualifying for the 2030 FIFA World Cup and, more importantly, building a team capable of competing for the trophy, the current transfer situation should be a matter of serious concern to every genuine Nigerian football stakeholder.

"Are the Nigerian players attracting the attention of Europe's biggest clubs? Where are the multimillion Euro transfers?

"And perhaps the most important question of all is, what has happened to the system that produced Nigerian players who were once commanding the attention of the biggest clubs in Europe?

Obviously miffed by the situation, he continued,  "Not too long ago, it was almost normal to see Nigerian footballers move directly from the domestic league to some of Europe's most prestigious clubs."

Solanke recalled with fond nostalgia, how the likes of Christian Obodo moved from Plateau United to Udinese in Italy; Obinna Nsofor from Enyimba to Inter Milan; Ahmed Musa, progressed from Kano Pillars to CSKA Moscow and Obafemi Martins, joined Inter Milan from FC Ebiede.

"Nwankwo Kanu, had earlier gone from Iwuanyanwu Nationale to Ajax, while other Nigerian stars established themselves at clubs such as Chelsea, Marseille, Paris Saint-Germain, Lille, Borussia Dortmund and other major European destinations.

Taiye Taiwo moved from Lobi Stars to Marseille, Bartholomew Ogbeche moved from Lobi Stars to Paris Saint-Germain, Vincent Enyeama progressed from Enyimba to Lille, John Utaka moved from Enugu Rangers to Lille, while Mikel Obi, made the leap to Chelsea after beginning his football journey at Plateau United.

"These were not merely transfers.They were evidence of a functioning football ecosystem. Nigerian league was producing players good enough to attract European scouts," Solanke, who is also founder and president of NLO side, Olumo United added.