Fresh off a clean sheet in his comeback appearance, Maduka Okoye has moved to shut down transfer speculation and reaffirm his commitment to Udinese.
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Super Eagles goalkeeper Maduka Okoye has firmly pledged his commitment to Udinese, insisting his focus is entirely on the Italian club despite continued transfer speculation linking him with Juventus and Inter Milan.
The message comes shortly after Okoye returned from a shoulder injury to keep a clean sheet in a 1-0 Coppa Italia win over Padova, a performance that helped ease any doubts about his fitness heading into the new season.
“I Want To Give Everything For Udinese”
Speaking to Tuttoudinese, Okoye said he and his teammates were fully prepared and fired up for the start of the season after weeks of hard work, and that his personal goal was to give everything for the club, the team and the fans. He said he keeps his life off the pitch separate from his football, adding that while things like his personal branding matter to him, once he is at the club his mind is solely on his work and on Udinese.
Backing His Fellow Goalkeepers
Okoye also spoke highly of Udinese’s other goalkeeping options, describing young shot-stopper Razvan Piana as a talented prospect and praising veteran Simone Padelli for the quality and experience he brings to the squad, saying he was looking forward to seeing how both continue to develop through the season.
📌 Did You Know?
- Okoye was named Udinese’s Player of the Season for 2025/26, recording 10 clean sheets in 29 league appearances.
- He was born in Dusseldorf, Germany, to a Nigerian father and German mother, and chose to represent Nigeria over Germany internationally.
- Okoye is a cousin of Nigerian music duo P-Square, with his father the brother of Peter and Paul Okoye’s father.
- He helped Udinese survive relegation on the final day of the 2023/24 season with a crucial win away at Frosinone.
- Standing at 1.98m, Okoye is among the tallest goalkeepers in Serie A, a physical presence that has become part of his game.
- Udinese’s Coppa Italia win over Padova, in Okoye’s comeback match, sets up a round of 16 tie against Venezia and fellow Nigerian Akor Adams.
