As many as ten Nigerian players are expected to join teams in Belgium this summer ahead of the start of next season, Owngoalnigeria.com Daniel Martins understands.
Already some deals are as good as done barring any last minute change of plans, although only that of Dennis Bonaventure to Club Brugge has been announced officially.
Former Nigeria U-20 captain Abduljelil Ajagun is few details away from joining Kortrijk from Dutch side Roda JC, where he spent the season on loan from Greek giants Panathinaikos.
HNK Rijeka 20 year old Nigerian forward Theophilus Solomon has also agreed a deal in principle to join Lokeren from the Croatian side after a successful spell on loan to Istra. He scored 8 goals in the recently concluded Crotian league despite playing as a winger.
His deal will be announced when Rijeka and Lokeren agree on a swap deal which will see a player from Lokeren moving to the recently crown Croatian league champions while Solomon goes the opposite direction.
Already Gent have secured the services of promising Nigerian right back Rueben Yem from Golden Boot Soccer Academy (GBS) in Jos. He was signed alongside Tony Ikedi who was immediately loaned out to FK Haugesund of Norway.
Rueben will however fight for a shirt in the main team of Gent next season, as he has been pencilled down for pre season action where his performances will determine if he will get a chance with the main team or loaned out.
As many as seven players are also set for trials with various Belgium teams, mostly players from the Nigeria U-20 team that failed to qualify for the ongoing World Youth Championship, owing to their failure to make it to the African Youth Championship.
Daniel Martins
