Club Brugge head coach Ivan Leko has dismissed speculation that Super Eagles midfielder Raphael Onyedika will leave the Belgian champions in this January transfer window, insisting the 24 year old remains part of his plans at Jan Breydel Stadium.
Onyedika has recently been linked with a move to Galatasaray with reports suggesting that Turkish giants have renewed their interest following his strong AFCON 2025 showing and his international teammate Victor Osimhen has publicly encouraged him to consider the switch.
However, Leko emphasised that nobody has informed him of any imminent exit, adding that Onyedika is training normally, in good spirits and fully available for selection.“I see no reason why Rapha can’t play. He’ll be in the squad,” the coach said, stressing that transfer rumours won’t impact the midfielder’s role this month.
Club Brugge have also rejected previous offers for Onyedika, preferring to hold on to one of their key midfielders unless an exceptional bid arrives, with officials optimistic they can convince him to remain at least until the summer. For now, Onyedika is expected to feature in Brugge’s upcoming matches as the team battles on both domestic and European fronts.
EDITORIAL
In a transfer window awash with conjecture and conditional clauses, Ivan Leko’s declaration over Raphael Onyedika’s future is a rare moment of calm certainty. Amid swirling speculation about a possible switch to Galatasaray — amplified by public encouragement from Victor Osimhen himself Brugge’s coach has chosen clarity over conjecture, asserting not just his authority but the club’s intent to retain one of its most influential midfield presences.
Onyedika’s situation encapsulates modern football’s dual realities the pull of lucrative moves abroad and the strategic value a club places on continuity. Brugge’s hesitance to sanction his departure at this juncture is not born of obstinacy but of context. In the crucible of competitive seasons where league ambitions intersect with European aspirations losing a midfield lynchpin mid-season can reverberate far beyond a single fixture list. Leko’s composure, expressed in pragmatic terms, reflects an understanding that squad stability often outweighs short-term headline value.
Critics may frame this as defence against progress, but football’s narrative is seldom so binary. Onyedika, a player still under contract until 2027, remains essential to Brugge’s rhythm both as an engine in midfield and a psychological anchor for team cohesion. The club’s firm stance, therefore, is less about shelving ambition than about preserving an existing framework that has delivered results. If the summer brings a different set of opportunities with improved valuations and strategic timing, then perhaps his story will evolve.
For now, Leko’s words carry weight because they are rooted in experience. He recognises that talent is most effective when deployed with purpose and presence. In keeping Onyedika, Brugge signal that they value not only the player’s ability but his role in shaping the club’s present campaign a campaign that hinges on collective momentum as much as individual brilliance. And in a sport that thrives on both, that balance is everything.
DID YOU KNOW?
- Onyedika is under contract with Club Brugge until 2027, giving the Belgian side leverage in any future transfer negotiations.
- Brugge have rejected multiple bids from Galatasaray for Onyedika this January, preferring to keep the midfielder unless an irresistible offer arrives.
- Manager Ivan Leko confirmed Onyedika is training normally and will be in the squad, dismissing speculation of an immediate exit.
- Interest in Onyedika has also come from Aston Villa and Eintracht Frankfurt, although no formal bids have been lodged.
- Onyedika only recently returned from AFCON 2025 duty, where Nigeria finished third and his performances boosted his transfer appeal.
