Olympique Marseille have completed the signing of Nigerian midfielder Tochukwu Nnadi from Belgian side Zulte Waregem in a €6 million deal on the winter transfer deadline day, Soccernet.ng reports.
While the move to the French top-flight league is a big career boost for the 22-year-old, he’ll be looking to stamp himself straight into Roberto De Zerbi’s team in their quest to seal a top-four finish in Ligue 1.
Nnadi has already revealed he’s looking forward to getting started at the Velodrome and is set to become the 5th Nigerian to have played for the one-time UEFA Champions League winners.
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Nigerians who have played for Olympique de Marseille
1. Victor Agali
A household name in Nigeria for typically tall people, a 1.93m tall Agali joined Marseille from NITEL Lagos in 1996, but struggled to break into the first team.
He played just six games for Marseille, scoring zero goals before joining Sporting Toulon Var and subsequently moving to Germany, where he played for Hansa Rostock and Schalke 04.
2. Joseph Yobo
One of three players to cross the 100-game mark for the Super Eagles of Nigeria, Joseph Yobo took a big leap from Standard Liege to join Marseille in 2001.
He played 24 games in his debut season before joining Everton on loan in 2002. The move became a permanent one a year later.
3. Taye Taiwo
Arguably the greatest Super Eagles left-back of all time, Taye Ismaila Taiwo was a force in his time with the French club, scoring 25 goals and providing 23 assists in 271 games for Les Phocéens.
Taye Taiwo also won the Ligue once, the Coupe de la Ligue twice, the French Super Cup once, and the UEFA Intertoto Cup twice.
4. Wilson Oruma
Oruma joined Marseille six months after Taye Taiwo’s arrival. The duo played 79 games together in their time at the club before Oruma joined EA Guingamp three years later.
The winger scored seven goals in 90 games across all competitions at the Velodrome.
