Nigeria midfielder Raphael Onyedika is close to joining Bundesliga side Eintracht Frankfurt from Belgian champions Club Brugge, with only the final details of the deal still to be completed, Footy-Africa understands.
Frankfurt have been leading the race for the 24-year-old despite interest from Saudi Pro League club Al Ittihad.
The Super Eagles midfielder has also been linked with Bundesliga side Wolfsburg and Turkish champions Galatasaray over the past year, but neither club was able to reach an agreement with Brugge.
Sources have told Footy-Africa that Onyedika informed Club Brugge before the end of last season that he would not sign a new contract. The Belgian club made several attempts to persuade him to extend his stay, but the former FC Midtjylland player opted to seek a new challenge.
Frankfurt have now agreed personal terms with the midfielder, and the transfer is understood to be in its final stages with medical set for sometime next week.
The German club are expected to complete the move in the coming days, allowing Onyedika to join their pre-season training camp.
Belgian reports suggest Brugge will receive a fee of about €10 million, including bonuses, despite the midfielder having a contract that runs until the summer of 2027.
Frankfurt have tracked Onyedika for some time and see him as a key addition to strengthen their midfield ahead of the new Bundesliga campaign.
If the transfer is completed, Onyedika will become the latest Nigerian to represent Eintracht Frankfurt, following former Super Eagles captain Jay-Jay Okocha.
The move would also bring him closer to Nigeria teammate Victor Boniface, who plays for Bundesliga rivals Bayer Leverkusen.
The pair have followed similar career paths, progressing from Nigerian academies to Scandinavian football before moving to Belgium. Boniface played for Norway’s Bodø/Glimt before joining Union Saint-Gilloise and later Bayer Leverkusen, while Onyedika moved from FC Ebedei to Denmark’s FC Midtjylland before signing for Club Brugge.
