David Okereke had offers from three different continents to weigh up, but a free transfer to newly promoted Benevento won out in the end.
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Nigerian forward David Okereke is set to join Italian Serie B club Benevento on a free transfer, agreeing a two year contract with an option for a further season with the newly promoted side. The 28 year old was expected to complete his medical before putting pen to paper on the deal.
The move comes despite considerable interest from elsewhere. Okereke had been attracting offers from clubs in Turkey, Major League Soccer and Belgium, as well as fellow Italian side Sampdoria, and had previously been reported close to a move to Turkish club Kocaelispor before that switch fell through in favour of staying in Italy.
Family appears to have played a significant role in that decision. Okereke lives in Italy with his Italian partner, with whom he has a young child, and reports suggest that connection weighed heavily as he chose to remain in Serie B rather than relocate abroad. Fans following his move can check Bet9ja’s current promo code ahead of the new Serie B season.
Okereke’s career has taken him through seven different Italian clubs already, starting at Lavagnese before a breakthrough at Spezia, where he scored 10 goals and provided 12 assists in the 2018/19 season. That form earned him an 8.2 million euro move to Belgian side Club Brugge in 2019, where he won the Belgian Pro League title during the pandemic-shortened 2019/20 season.
A loan at newly promoted Venezia followed, before Cremonese signed him permanently for around 10 million euros in 2022. New Bet9ja users following Nigerian forwards across Europe can check how to get the Bet9ja promotion code before the new season kicks off.
His most recent seasons have been more nomadic. Okereke spent time on loan at Torino before a productive spell at Turkish Super Lig side Gaziantep in 2024/25, scoring nine goals in 29 league appearances, including a goal against Fenerbahce. He returned to Cremonese for the 2025/26 season, but his contract expired at the end of the campaign following the club’s relegation, making him available as a free agent.
On the international stage, Okereke has represented Nigeria’s U23 side, having first been called into senior training back in 2019 without earning a full cap at that level. Punters following his fresh start at Benevento can check Bet9ja’s YOHAIG code as the new Serie B season approaches.
Benevento, who secured promotion to Serie B last season, could hand Okereke his debut as early as Friday’s Coppa Italia clash against Fiorentina, giving the well travelled forward an immediate opportunity to make an impression at his seventh Italian club.
📌 Did You Know?
- Okereke’s Benevento contract runs until June 2028, with an automatic club option for a further season.
- He won the Belgian Pro League with Club Brugge in 2019/20, a title awarded after the season was curtailed by the COVID-19 pandemic.
- His move from Spezia to Club Brugge in 2019 was worth around 8.2 million euros.
- Okereke could make his Benevento debut in Friday’s Coppa Italia clash against Fiorentina.
- Benevento is the seventh Italian club of Okereke’s career, following spells at Lavagnese, Spezia, Cosenza, Venezia, Cremonese and Torino.
- He scored against Fenerbahce during his loan spell at Gaziantep in the 2024/25 Turkish Super Lig season.
- Okereke chose to stay in Italy partly for family reasons, having a young child with his Italian partner.
