Slovakia’s AS Trenčín has agreed terms with one of West Africa’s brightest prospects. The club has reached an agreement to sign 17 year old phenom Habila, captain of the Nigerian U-20 national team, following the departure of prodigy Sani Suleiman to Bundesliga side RB Leipzig in January.
Despite being one of the youngest players at the recent WAFU B U-20 Championship, the teenage midfielder wore the armband and led the Flying Eagles to a runner-up finish, notably scoring a crucial equalizer in the semi finals against Côte d’Ivoire to keep his team in the tournament.
His leadership and composure on the big stage cemented his reputation as arguably the standalone talent of Nigeria’s current U-20 generation.
Habila’s trajectory has been rapid. At just 15, he was already turning heads at Jos’ famed GBS Football Academy, a proven hotbed for elite talent. His performances earned him a move to Wikki Tourists in the Nigeria Premier Football League, NPFL, where his tactical intelligence and technical quality immediately caught the attention of national team selectors.
His rapid ascent did not go unnoticed across Europe with Swedish giants AIK making a strong push for Habila, aiming to replicate their success after selling Nigerian talent Zadok Yohanna to Premier League outfit Brighton & Hove Albion.
Belgium side Racing Genk and English Premier League side Liverpool along with a host of European clubs also made inquiries regarding the teenager.
AS Trenčín acted decisively, securing an agreement ahead of other interested parties by presenting a clear development plan that the player’s family viewed as the best pathway to consistent first team playing time.
It is understood that a personal recommendation from Sani Suleiman, following his high profile transfer from Trenčín to Leipzig, played a pivotal role in swaying Habila’s decision.
Having already secured his visa, Habila is scheduled to travel to Slovakia shortly to finalize the move and integrate into the first team squad.
AS Trenčín has long served as an ideal European launching pad for GBS Academy talent. Habila follows a well trodden path carved out by previous GBS Academy, who used Trenčín as a springboard to top European leagues, most notably Ahmed Musa, Moses Simon, and Samuel Kalu.
With Suleiman’s recent jump to Leipzig serving as the latest proof of concept, Habila arrives in Slovakia with the stage set for his own European breakthrough.
