Watford have announced the signing of Nigeria goalkeeper Maduka Okoye on a five-and-a-half-year deal from Eredivisie club Sparta Rotterdam for an undisclosed fee.
With the transfer window currently closed, Okoye is expected to complete the switch in the January transfer window. Although he would be signed by the Premier League side, he will return to Rotterdam on loan for the rest of the 2021-22 season.
The club made the announcement via a statement on the club’s website: “Watford FC is pleased to announce that it has reached an agreement to sign highly-rated young goalkeeper Maduka Okoye, on a five-and-a-half-year deal that will begin on January 1, 2022.
“The Nigeria international joins the Hornets for an undisclosed fee from Eredivisie outfit Sparta Rotterdam, to where he will return on loan until the end of the 2021/22 campaign.
“A regular starter for the Dutch club, Okoye has lined up between the sticks in each of their games so far this season, while he has made 13 appearances for his country since debuting in a 1-1 draw with Brazil in 2019.
“The 6ft 6in shot-stopper’s consistent displays for both club and country have seen him linked with some of Europe’s biggest clubs, but he has now put pen to paper on a long-term deal with the Golden Boys.
“Welcome to Watford, Maduka!”
The player took to social media to express his happiness over the move:
“I’m overwhelmed to sign for @WatfordFC, to play in the Premier League is something I’ve been dreaming about since I was a little boy. I can’t wait to get started with the team upcoming season! #22/23 I wish the Club all the best for the rest of the season.”
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The 22-year-old shot-stopper has proven himself in Sparta Rotterdam since joining the club from German club Fortuna Dusseldorf on a free transfer in July 2020.
Following his impressive debut campaign, Okoye was awarded Sparta Rotterdam’s Player of the Season. He has also featured in every match so far this season, keeping a clean sheet.
His team has however struggled this season as they currently sit 16th in the standings after amassing only 10 points in 12 games.
With the move to Watford, Okoye would join a host of African stars including Nigerian teammates William Troost-Ekong, Emmanuel Dennis and Oghenekaro Etebo and Senegal’s Ismaila Sarr, Morocco’s Adam Masina and Cameroon’s Nicolas N’Koulou.
Okoye is Nigeria’s starting goalkeeper and has played 13 games for Gernot Rohr’s side. He made his debut against Brazil in an international friendly in 2019.
He is also a part of the 24 players invited for Nigeria’s 2022 Fifa World Cup qualifiers against Liberia and Cape Verde Islands on November 13 and 16, respectively.
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