NPFL Updates: Akwa United First To sign new players, raid Heartland for quartet

Akwa United on Friday became the first club to have players cleared by the League Management Company (LMC) from other sides to team up with the Promise Keepers in the mid-season transfer transactions.

It was a massive market rush for Akwa United as six players got the all clear to sign for the 2015 Federation Cup champions with four coming from neighbours, Heartland FC of Owerri, one from Abia Warriors and one from amateur side, Papillo FC of Owerri.

From Heartland are Babangida Hassan, Julius Gideon, forward Fortune Omoniwari and Amaechi Orji. Alhassan Dosso was signed from Abia Warriors and Michael Ikpe from Papillo FC, an academy run by former Super Eagles captain, Nwankwo Kanu. All the six players were offered three-year deals each.

LMC Chief Operating Officer, Salihu Abubakar confirmed the closing of the deals and added that “Akwa United provided the mandatory club players’ attestation that salaries have been paid up to date. This consistent with our requirement to ensure that no club that has outstanding salary obligation to players of the team transacts business in the transfer market. We won’t allow a club owing players to bring on new ones.”

Akwa United are eyeing Ikorodu United’s Candy Agbane. However, the paper works are yet to be completed at the LMC office in Abuja.