The 2025 winter transfer window shut down on Monday at 11:00 p.m. GMT.
DAILY POST reports that the window has been open since Wednesday 1, January 2025.
Some Nigerian players joined new clubs during the window, while some remain stuck with their current clubs after failing to secure a move following the transfer deadline day.
DAILY POST brings you a recap of some of the Nigerian players who have successfully joined new clubs and also those who failed to secure a move away from their current teams following the deadline day of the winter transfer window.
Kelechi Iheanacho
Iheanacho officially joined Middlesbrough on loan from Sevilla until the end of the season.
His move to the Championship club was confirmed on transfer deadline day (Monday night) after he successfully passed his medical.
The 28-year-old only joined Sevilla last summer from Leicester City.
However, the former Manchester City striker failed to excel at Sevilla, scoring just three goals across all competitions for the Spanish La Liga club.
Emmanuel Dennis
Dennis agreed on a deal to join Blackburn Rovers on transfer deadline day from Nottingham Forest.
According to football transfer expert, Fabrizio Romano, the Nigerian striker was on his way for medical tests at Blackburn Rovers.
The 27-year-old has struggled for regular time at Forest as he is behind the likes of strikers Chris Wood and Taiwo Awoniyi, respectively.
Seun Akanji
Akanji joined the Norwegian top-flight club, Lillestrøm, from Nigeria National League, NNL side, Sporting Lagos.
The 16-year-old striker was handed a contract after impressing during trials at Lillestrøm.
The striker received offers from multiple European clubs but opted for a move to Norway.
Akanji can only become eligible to play for Lillestrøm in the summer of 2026.
Chuba Akpom
Akpom sealed a loan move to Ligue 1 outfit, Lille from Eredivisie giants, Amsterdam.
Lille has the option to make the loan move permanent at the end of the season.
Akpom was unveiled by Les Dogues on Sunday (the Eve of transfer deadline day).
The 29-year-old had moved to Ajax from Sky Bet Championship club, Middlesbrough in 2023.
Gift Orban
Orban joined Bundesliga club, TSG Hoffenheim from Olympic Lyon earlier in the January transfer window.
Hoffenheim paid €9m plus €3m add-ons for the 22-year-old.
The Nigerian forward signed a contract with the Bundesliga until 2029.
Umar Sadiq
Sadiq completed his loan move to LaLiga club, Valencia from Real Sociedad earlier in the January transfer window.
Sadiq joined Valencia after his struggles at Real Sociedad.
The 27-year-old enjoyed a productive spell with Almería, scoring 43 goals and providing 13 assists in 84 appearances before his move to Real Sociedad in 2022.
Victor Boniface
Boniface failed to get a move away from Bayer Leverkusen to Saudi Pro League club Al Nassr.
Al Nassr pulled out of the deal to sign the Nigerian striker despite having already reached an agreement with Bayer Leverkusen.
Stefano Pioli’s side had also agreed on personal terms with Boniface.
The Saudi Arabia club instead signed Aston Villa forward Jhon Duran over Boniface, who is now entirely focused on playing for Leverkusen following his botched transfer to Al Nassr.
Taiwo Awoniyi
Awoniyi was linked with a move away from Nottingham Forest to West Ham United.
Reports emerged that his present club, Nottingham Forest, is open to selling him to avoid another breach of the Premier League’s financial rules.
But Awoniyi now looks set to remain at Forest beyond this winter transfer window.
The 27-year-old joined the Premier League club from Bundesliga side, Union Berlin, in June 2022.
Samuel Chukwueze
Chukwueze attracted interest from Fulham on transfer deadline day.
Fulham approached AC Milan with just a few hours left in the transfer window in a bid to sign the Nigeria international.
This was revealed by football transfer expert, Fabrizio Romano, on Monday night.
“Understand Fulham have approached AC Milan to sign Samuel Chukwueze.
“Negotiations ongoing between all parties involved with short time to make it happen,” Romano tweeted.
Victor Osimhen
Osimhen was linked with a move during the January transfer window.
The 26-year-old, who is currently on a season-long loan at Galatasaray from Napoli, was linked with the likes of Arsenal, Manchester United, and Chelsea.
However, Osimhen has already stated categorically that he won’t leave Galatasaray during the January window.
According to him, he would see out his contract with the Turkish club.
Ola Aina
Aina was identified by Manchester City as a potential replacement for Kyle Walker.
Walker has since joined AC Milan, but Aina has remained at Nottingham Forest.
Aina has just six months left on his contract at Nottingham Forest.
Speaking with DAILY POST on Monday, Isa Saleh, co-founder of Borno Junior League, said it was a welcome development and a good one for Nigerian players to go to clubs where they can get more playing time.
“It’s a good one and a welcome development that some of these Nigerian players were able to move to clubs where they can get more playing time,” Saleh said.
“You know the FIFA World Cup qualifiers are just around the corner and we need these players to be fully fit for the task ahead.
“I’m happy for those that completed a switch to new clubs, for example, Iheanacho.
“I am particularly pleased with him because he was not getting enough game time at Sevilla, hopefully he will do well and regularly play for Middlesbrough,” he noted.
He added, “For the two Victors [Osimhen and Boniface]. They didn’t leave their current clubs despite several links.
“For Osimhen, I think it’s a good one for him to complete his loan at Galatasaray, then move to a bigger club in England or Spain in the summer.
“As for Boniface, he was close to joining Al Nassr. I don’t like players moving to another club in the January window but in a situation when such players are not getting playing time, then they can move to new clubs on short-term loans.
“But Boniface, apart from the injury he got, he was a regular player for Alonso. So I see no reason why he should leave Leverkusen for Saudi Arabia this winter window.
“If he must leave, then I prefer him doing so in the summer,” he said.
