Super Eagles Forward Gift Orban Seals Ligue1 Transfer Following AFCON Snub by Jose Peseiro

• Gift Orban’s talent has attracted a flurry of interest from numerous European clubs
• The Nigerian striker was heavily linked with a transfer to Eintracht Frankfurt
• The 21-year-old has secured a move to a French Ligue 1 giant

The ascent of Nigerian forward Gift Emmanuel Orban has been nothing short of immense.

Since bursting onto the scenes in Norway with Stabæk, where he notched an impressive 19 goals in 24 appearances during his lone season with the club, Orban's talent has consistently drawn the attention of top European teams.

This success in Norway led to a noteworthy ₤3.3 million transfer to the Jupiler League powerhouse KVV Gent.

Under the guidance of manager Hein Vanhaezebrouck at the Belgian club, Orban's goal-scoring abilities flourished. He further gained prominence when he netted an extraordinary first-half hat-trick in a UEFA Europa Conference League match against Istanbul Basaksehir.

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With a staggering 32 goals in 48 appearances, according to data courtesy of Fotmob, it is little wonder many European giants are on the chase for the forward’s signature.

However, while Eintracht Frankfurt appeared to be the favourite to sign the Nigerian, Ligue 1 giant Olympique Lyon has completed an unexpected swoop for the Nigerian.

Lyon signs Gift Orban

As per reports from the French outlet L'Equipe, Lyon is set to secure the services of the Nigerian forward for a fee in the region of ₤13 million.

The anticipation is that Orban will play a crucial role in revitalising the struggling Ligue 1 powerhouse during their challenging season, even though he will face tough competition from club captain Alexander Lacazette for a spot in the starting lineup.

Despite the competition, expectations are high for Orban to excel under the management of Pierre Sage. His unique playing style, which sets him apart from classical forwards like Ernest Nuamah and Malick Fofana, is seen as a valuable asset for the team.

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Orban is also optimistic that his move to the Ligue 1 giant will boost his chances of securing a spot in the Super Eagles squad, especially after being left out of the team for the Africa Cup of Nations.

Frankfurt dealt Orban blow

Sports Brief in a previous report highlighted German Bundesliga outfit Eintracht Frankfurt have been dealt a huge blow in their pursuit of Gift Orban.

The highly coveted Nigerian forward was heavily linked to the 2021-22 UEFA Europa League Champions. However, a huge transfer slapped on the Super Eagles forward has proved an obstacle.

Orban is now poised to join Ligue 1 club Olympique Lyon.