Belgian champions Club Brugge have opted to retain Nigerian international Raphael Onyedika despite extensive speculation linking him with a move away from the club, Nigeriasoccernet.com can report.
Throughout the summer transfer window, Onyedika was frequently mentioned in transfer rumors, with several reports indicating that Club Brugge had reached an agreement with an undisclosed club for his departure.
The speculation intensified as Europe’s top five leagues concluded their transfer activities, with Turkish champions Galatasaray emerging as a potential destination for the midfielder.
Galatasaray was reported to have engaged in negotiations with Onyedika, having reportedly agreed on personal terms. The Turkish giants showed strong interest in finalizing the transfer before the end of their domestic transfer window, which remains open longer than those in other major European leagues.
Despite these developments, Club Brugge ultimately decided against allowing Onyedika to leave. According to Voetbalkrant.com, the Belgian club was reluctant to approve the transfer due to difficulties in securing a suitable replacement for the defensive midfielder.
With the Belgian transfer window also closed, Brugge faced constraints in their ability to bring in a new player to fill Onyedika’s role.
As a result, Onyedika will remain with Club Brugge until at least the next transfer window, which opens in January. Therefore, the earliest opportunity for the Nigerian midfielder to potentially move would be during the winter transfer period.
In related news, Galatasaray has recently bolstered their squad by securing the loan signing of Onyedika’s international teammate, Victor Osimhen, from Napoli. This move further highlights Galatasaray’s ambition to strengthen their team ahead of the new season.
Oluwayemi Omolagba