The name Henry Onyekuru is almost becoming a daily occurrence in the transfer news nowadays.
Onyekuru, 19, who plays for Belgian side, KAS Eupen, is attracting loads of interest from some of Europe’s top clubs including Liverpool, Celtic and CSKA Moscow.
With this in mind, we take a look at the little-known Nigerian.
Who is Henry Onyekuru?
Onyekuru was born in Onitsha, Anambra State and plays as a striker for newly promoted Belgian side, Eupen. The youngster was spotted playing in Nigeria and brought to the Aspire Academy in Senegal before linking up with Eupen who are owned by the Aspire Zone Foundation, in the summer of 2015.
Rise to stardom
Onyekuru’s switch to Eupen was certainly the catalyst the club desperately needed to secure promotion to the topflight after scoring four superb goals. And the 19-year-old continued that fine form this season with 13 goals in his first taste of elite football. The Nigerian who is presently the fourth top scorer in Belgium has single-handedly provided more than half of the goals scored by the Pandas.
Interested clubs
Liverpool, Celtic, CSKA Moscow, Fenerbahçe, Arsenal and Red Bull Leipzig are among a host of European sides that want the Nigerian. However, it seems the club are bent on playing hard to get with their most prized asset.
Controversies
Onyekuru and his club are obviously not on the same page over his proposed departure. The club even declared the Nigerian missing after failing to appear in training. It is believed the 19-year-old fancies a move to Celtic while the club prefer CSKA or a German side.
Talking to Africanfootball.com, Onyekuru said: “Eupen are acting funny on my transfer. They are frustrating me and my agent for their own interest.
“They promised to let me move in January if I have a good offer. Now there are good offers but they now want me to sign for their own agent before I move and they want me to sign for CSKA Moscow which I am not interested in. This is unfair and not acceptable.”
But Eupen chief executive, Christoph Henkel, claims the Scottish League isn’t the best for the promising talent.
“We know Celtic are interested, but Red Bull Leipzig are as well. I don’t think the Scottish league is an option for Henry,” he told Daily Mail.
“Scotland is 23rd on the UEFA ranking and Belgium ninth. Our competition is therefore more rewarding. Besides, I think the qualities of Henry Onyekuru don’t correspond to Scottish football. He would be more likely to flourish in the Bundesliga.”
Has he been capped by Nigeria?
No. Onyekuru is yet to feature for any Nigerian national teams. He will most likely get a look from Gernot Rohr during the forthcoming World Cup qualifiers.
“I will be very happy if I get invited because it’s a good thing to play for the national team of your country and I also would like to have a feel,” Onyekuru admitted.
“Every Nigerian I believe looks forward to this.”
