Weeks after being chased by a cluster of Bundesliga clubs, Anthony Dennis has instead taken his next step in the UAE.
Want our football coverage to show up first?
Add FootballInNigeria as a preferred source and our stories get a "Preferred" badge in your Google Top Stories, AI Overviews, and AI Mode results.
Nigerian midfielder Anthony Dennis has completed a move to United Arab Emirates club Al Jazira from Turkish outfit Goztepe.
Al Jazira confirmed the signing on their official X account, registering the 22-year-old as a resident player. The move brings an end to a summer of heavy transfer speculation that had linked Dennis with Hoffenheim, Mainz, Augsburg and Stuttgart, among others.
A Breakthrough Spell In Turkey
Dennis joined Goztepe from HB Academy in Abuja in January 2023, initially featuring for the club’s Under-19 side before earning promotion to the senior team. He made his professional debut in a 1-1 draw against Corum in January 2024 and went on to play a key role in Goztepe’s promotion to the Turkish Super Lig for the 2024/25 season, form that earned him a contract extension to 2027 and interest from across Europe. He finishes his time in Turkey with five goals and two assists in 83 appearances across all competitions.
A New Chapter In The UAE Pro League
Dennis now begins a new chapter with Al Jazira as he looks to establish himself in the UAE Pro League, a competition that has increasingly attracted talented young players from across Europe and Africa in recent seasons.
📌 Did You Know?
- Dennis received his first Super Eagles call-up in March 2025 for World Cup qualifiers against Rwanda and Zimbabwe, though he remains an invitee rather than a capped international.
- Goztepe reportedly rejected an €3.3 million offer from Belgian side Anderlecht for Dennis last summer, valuing him closer to €8 million before this move.
- Al Jazira, based in Abu Dhabi, are one of the more prominent clubs in the UAE Pro League and have a track record of attracting international talent.
- Dennis was born in Kaduna and has credited street football growing up in the city as foundational to his development as a player.
- His move away from a heavily linked Bundesliga destination in favour of the UAE is a less conventional route for a young Nigerian talent, most of whom typically prioritise European leagues.
