Czech Republic side Viktoria Plzen have completed the signing of Nigerian forward Salim Fago Lawal in a club-record deal from Croatian club NK Istra.
The 23-year-old has enjoyed a remarkable rise in his career and was part of the squad that won bronze for the Super Eagles at the recently concluded 2025 African Cup of Nations tournament in Morocco. He leaves Istra after an impressive two-and-a-half year spell, having joined in August 2023.
The former Czech Republic champions will pay up to €3 million in total for the transfer, with the Super Eagles star expected to sign a three-and-a-half year contract keeping him at the club until 2029 and will wear the number 70 shirt.
Plzen moved quickly for attacking reinforcements follwoing the departure of fellow Nigerian Rafiu Durosinmi, who left the club earlier in the month to join Pisa in the Italian Serie A. Salim Lawal is expected to fill the gap in the center-forward role, offering a focal point in attack while he can also deputize on both flanks, helping the team with his versatility.
Arrival from Istra 🛬 pic.twitter.com/tDgNbjx31F
— FC Viktoria Plzeň (@fcviktorkaplzen) January 27, 2026
Transfer fee and contract details
Viktoria Plzen will pay a fixed amount of €2.4 million with around €600,000 in performance-related add-ons, amounting to around €3 million for the transfer of the Nigerian forward, who has signed a three-and-a-half year deal at the club.
The fee is a club-record for an arrival, surpassing the €1.6 million paid to Hradec Kralove to sign defender Karel Spacil last January.
The Czech Republic side beat competition from Azerbaijan champions Qarabag who were also close to the signature of the 23-year-old.
How much will Salim Fago Lawal earn at Viktoria Plzen
Salim Fago Lawal is set to receive a significant upgrade in pay and will earn about €1,789 per week, amounting to €93,028 per year.
Over the course of this stay at the club, the Nigerian forward is expected to earn above €300,000 apart from bonuses.
He becomes the most valuable addition in the club’s history, with their total expenditure including his transfer fee expected to be rise to around €4 million.
PŘESTUP Ⓥ✅
Novou posilou Viktorie Plzeň se stává třiadvacetiletý útočník Salim Fago Lawal 🇳🇬 S klubem podepsal kontrakt na tři a půl roku ✍🏻 Tiskovou zprávu naleznete na našem webu 📝TISKOVÁ ZPRÁVA ➡️ https://t.co/LMK2SeOhKG pic.twitter.com/0NbDHsjuZC
— FC Viktoria Plzeň (@fcviktorkaplzen) January 27, 2026
From Croatia to Czech Republic
Salim Fago Lawal enjoyed a breakthrough career at NK Istra in Croatia, where his performances also caught the eyes of Nigerian head coach Eric Chelle who handed him his international debut.
The 23-year-old is set to embrace a new chapter in his career and will be hoping to continue his upward rise, which could set him up for a move to a bigger club in Europe in the future.
