Standing 6ft 5in tall and only two years into his European career, the Abuja-born centre back has beaten out interest from four clubs to seal a move to Switzerland.
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Swiss side FC Basel are closing in on a deal to sign Nigerian defender Akpe Victory this summer, according to a report from Soccernet.ng, beating out competition from Rangers, Strasbourg, Benfica and Trabzonspor for his signature.
Victory has attracted significant interest from across Europe despite arriving on the continent only two years ago. He began his European journey with Banga in Lithuania before switching to Hungarian club Zalaegerszeg at the turn of the year, where his performances quickly drew attention from several suitors this summer.
Deal Now Close After Weeks Of Talks
Transfer journalist Rudy Galetti reported on social media that FC Basel had closed the gap with Zalaegerszeg after weeks of negotiations, with the Hungarian club having previously turned down earlier offers for the player. According to Galetti, Victory is now set to begin a new chapter in Switzerland.
Victory is valued at around €2 million on Transfermarkt, though the final agreed fee has not been disclosed. Earlier reports had suggested Zalaegerszeg would only consider offers in the region of €5 million before the two clubs found common ground.
An Imposing Presence At The Back
Born in Abuja, Victory is primarily a centre-back and stands at 6ft 5in, giving him a significant aerial advantage and imposing physical presence. He is also known for being strong in one on one duels and comfortable playing out from the back, a skill set that suits coaches who prioritise possession based defending.
For a 19 year old still early in his European career, his rate of development has been notable, and there remains considerable room for growth, both for the player and potentially for whichever club eventually profits from a future sale.
📌 Did You Know?
- Victory began his European career with Lithuanian club Banga before his move to Hungary’s Zalaegerszeg.
- FC Basel are former Swiss Super League champions with a strong recent history in continental competition.
- At 6ft 5in, Victory’s height places him among the taller centre back prospects currently emerging from Nigerian football.
- Rangers, Strasbourg and Benfica were all previously linked with Victory before FC Basel moved ahead in the race.
- Trabzonspor, another club credited with interest, won the Turkish Cup last season.
