Italian Serie A side Hellas Verona is really close to complete a major transfer coup to acquire the services of exciting Nigerian forward Gift Orban from German side Hoffenheim, in a huge attacking reinforcement for the club.
It is believed that Verona will pay an initial €1 million loan fee for the Nigerian striker, with an option to sign him permanently for €9 million at the end of the season if certain criteria are met.
Orban joined Hoffenheim in January from Olympique Lyon and netted four times in 13 Bundesliga appearances. However, he was deemed surplus to requirements with the arrivals of more attacking options this summer at the German club.
The Italian side is to cover the full wages of the Super Eagles forward, who previously earned €40,000 weekly at Hoffenheim, amounting to around €2.08 million annually.
The move represents a fresh start and new environment for the 23-year-old, who needed to secure regular playing time to boost his chances of making Nigeria’s competitive squad for the 2025 African Cup of Nations in December.
“He needs to buckle up and do better,” Choji on Orban’s potential loan
Transfer fee and full contract details
Hellas Verona have signed the young attacker on an initial loan deal and will pay a fee of €1 million for the loan, with the remaining €9 million set to be paid in full to activate the option to sign permanently.
French club Toulouse were reportedly keen on landing the Nigerian international, but could not reach an agreement on a transfer fee with Hoffenheim and were beaten to his signature by The Yellow and Blues.
The Italian side will be boosted by the addition of Gift Orban, whose pace and ability to play across multiple attacking areas makes him a big threat to opposition defenders.
Salary breakdown
Per Capology, Gift Orban currently earns €40,000 weekly at Hoffenheim, amounting to around €2.08 million annually, and is expected to receive the same amount during his initial loan spell at Hellas Verona, with the Italian side set to cover 100% of his wages.
If the permanent buy clause is activated in the summer, Verona’s total investment in the Nigerian forward could exceed €20 million, which makes him one of the most expensive additions in the club’s history.
From Southwest Germany to Verona
Gift Orban sealed a move to Hoffenheim in January after an underwhelming spell in France with Olympique Lyon. He netted four times in 13 Bundesliga appearances until the end of the season.
Now set for a spell in Italy, Orban will hope for a return to the form he showed in Belgium with Gent, where he first gained prominence.
