Kwara United have been left frustrated after key defensive midfielder Victor Adeoye forced a move to Ukrainian Premier League side FC Kudrivka, Footy-Africa can exclusively report.
Adeoye, who captained the Nigerian Professional Football League (NPFL) side on several occasions, joined the Ukrainian outfit as a free agent despite having several months remaining on his contract in Ilorin.
The move comes after a turbulent period for the midfielder, who initially traveled to Turkey to negotiate with a top-flight club. When that deal failed to materialize, Adeoye opted for a move to Ukraine rather than returning to the NPFL.
‘Blow’ to relegation battle
The departure is a significant setback for Kwara United, who are currently fighting to maintain their top-flight status. Adeoye was a cornerstone of the team, famously leading them to a Nigerian Federation Cup title and representing the club in the CAF Confederation Cup.
His form this season had been exemplary; he was named the club’s Player of the Month for November with a standout average rating of 8.0.
‘We didn’t want to keep an unhappy player’
Sources within the club have expressed disappointment at the manner of his exit, revealing that Adeoye was one of three players permitted to leave for trials after the first half of the season. While the other two players returned to the squad, Adeoye did not.
“He’s one of the three players that left the club after the first stanza of the league for trials, but the two other guys returned, but he didn’t,” a club source told Footy-Africa.
“We didn’t want to lose [him] because he’s a very important figure in our team, but we didn’t want to keep an unhappy player as well. We know some of them will stop giving their best when you try to make them stay and help the team, and we don’t want that.”
The loss of the “mercurial” midfielder leaves a void in the heart of the Kwara United engine room as they navigate a difficult relegation scrap.
