Super Eagles striker Paul Onuachu is edging closer to a permanent return to Trabzonspor, following productive negotiations between the Turkish club and Southampton. The English side, recently relegated to the Championship, initially demanded €8 million for the Nigerian forward down from the €18 million they paid for him in January 2023.
After weeks of stalled talks, both clubs are now believed to be close to settling at around €6 million, potentially sealing a deal that suits all parties.
Onuachu, 30, had an impressive loan spell with Trabzonspor last season, scoring 17 goals in just 22 appearances. He expressed a strong desire to remain in Turkey, but the move was delayed due to the initial valuation gap between the clubs.
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While he scored only four goals for Southampton in the Premier League, his form in Turkey reignited his confidence and market value making this return a logical and welcome next step.
Editorial
For a striker whose strengths lie in confidence and consistency, Paul Onuachu’s situation has always been clear he thrives when trusted and used properly. At Trabzonspor, he found that combination, and the result was a goal haul that reminded everyone why he once topped the Belgian Pro League scoring charts.
His brief stint at Southampton, though not disastrous, was marred by limited service and managerial instability. Relegation only confirmed what many already suspected—that the Premier League wasn’t the right fit, at least at that point in his career.
Now, a return to Turkey feels right. Trabzonspor offer a platform where he’s already loved, already proven, and crucially already settled. The potential deal at €6 million represents smart business for a player who still has several prime years ahead. It’s a move that benefits the club, the player, and if form continues the Super Eagles.
Let’s not overlook what this means for Nigerian football either. Onuachu’s revival abroad provides options and depth for the national team, especially ahead of the upcoming World Cup qualifiers.
A final agreement may still require a few signatures, but the path has been cleared. Onuachu is coming home to the place where he felt most alive on the pitch.
Did You Know?
- Paul Onuachu won the 2020/21 Belgian Golden Boot after scoring 33 goals in a single season for Genk.
- Standing at 2.01 metres, Onuachu is one of the tallest strikers currently active in European top flight football.
- He scored just once in his debut season for Southampton before his loan switch to Turkey.
- Trabzonspor previously won the Turkish Süper Lig in the 2021/22 season, ending a 38-year title drought.
- Onuachu made his senior international debut for Nigeria in 2019 and scored with his first touch against Egypt in a friendly.
