Nigerian defender Chibuike Nwaiwu has agreed a move to Turkish Super Lig side Trabzonspor from Austrian club Wolfsberger in a club record deal, Footy-Africa confirms.
The 22-year-old arrived in Turkey on Tuesday and underwent a medical before completing the transfer.
Nwaiwu attracts Trabzonspor interest as Wolfsberger hold out for €10m
Trabzonspor and Wolfsberger have reached an agreement worth around €6.5m, Footy-Africa can exclusively reveal, with Nwaiwu signing a four-year contract at the former Turkish champions.
The deal represents a club-record sale for Wolfsberger, surpassing the €5m transfer of Mohamed Bamba to French side FC Lorient and the €4m move of Shon Weissman to Real Valladolid.
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Nwaiwu had been linked with several clubs, including Premier League side West Ham United, Germany’s Eintracht Frankfurt and a number of Turkish teams.
The former Enyimba defender will link up with fellow Nigerian Paul Onuachu at Trabzonspor and becomes the latest player from the country to feature for the club, following in the footsteps of John Obi Mikel, Ogenyi Onazi and Anthony Nwakaeme.
Onazi backs Nwaiwu to succeed at Trabzonspor
Former Trabzonspor midfielder and Nigerian international Ogenyi Onazi believes Chibuike Nwaiwu has joined a “big but demanding” club and must be mentally prepared to succeed.
Speaking exclusively to Footy-Africa, the club legend said the move could provide an important pathway into Europe’s top leagues.
“It’s a good move for him because Trabzonspor is a big club, but it is very demanding,” Onazi said. “He has to be mentally ready for the challenge.
“The Turkish Super Lig is also a good market for him to launch himself into the bigger leagues.”
Onazi also pointed to the success of fellow Nigerian Paul Onuachu at the club as a positive sign.
“Paul is doing well there and scoring goals. We pray the new youngster will do well and continue the tradition,” he added.
“We hope the new kid will do well”
Onazi spent three successful seasons at Trabzonspor after joining from Italian Serie A side Lazio and says he retains a strong connection with the club.
“I was there for some time and gave everything,” he said. “The club appreciated it.”
The former midfielder also revealed he played a key role in previous high-profile signings at the club.
“I was instrumental in the signing of Anthony Nwakaeme. The club president asked me about him and gave the go-ahead. I was there with his agent when he signed, and he went on to become very successful,” Onazi explained.
“I was also involved in the signing of John Mikel Obi. I was injured at the time and the president asked me to recommend someone, and I suggested Mikel.”
Onazi concluded by expressing hope that Nwaiwu would make a similar impact.
“We hope the new kid will do well,” he said.
