German giants Bayern Munich have officially announced the signing of 2019 U-17 midfielder Daniel Francis on a three year contract as first reported by OwngoalNigeria.com.

The 18 year old has been with their world team for the last two years and has now made the step to the Bayern Munich main set up becoming the first Nigerian to sign for the German giants.

“Daniel played his way to the fore during his time in the FC Bayern World Squad and acted very conspicuously in the test games. He’s attracted the interest of a number of clubs, so we’re delighted he’s signed and that he can now gain match practice at Austria Klagenfurt. We have already had good experiences with Klagenfurt at Timossi Andersson. Liu has also been there for six months and is developing well,” emphasizes Jochen Sauer, Head of the FC Bayern Campus.

As also reported by this portal, he will spend the rest of the season on loan to Austrian side Klagenfurt, the club also announced his loan deal hoping he develops as projected.

“With Daniel we get a highly talented lad who, despite his young age, behaves very cleverly on the pitch. He is robust, technically strong and has a good pace. I’m convinced that he can take the next step in his career at Austria and come as a surprise this season,” says sporting director Matthias Imhof about Francis on the club’s website.

As reports linking Nigeria international striker Sadiq Umar with a move to Bundesliga side Borussia Dortmund continue to dominate discussions. The president of Almeria has reacted to the story.

Several reports in Spain spoke about Almeria accepting a bid from an unnamed team outside Spain and some outlets suggested it is Borussia Dortmund who have sealed his signing for a fee in the region of €25m, which could rise to €30m as it contains several add ons.

Sadiq also added fuel to the speculation as he vacated his house in Spain and he hasn’t renewed his rent. He his however back in the city and will train later today with Almeria.

Reacting to the story through a link on social media platform Twitter, where Owngoalnigeria.com was quoted, the president of the team Turki Al-Sheikh liked the post where it was detailed that they will get the amount as mentioned above.

https://twitter.com/salva_arm/status/1554821244163432450?s=21

Borussia Dortmund are in the market for a striker after their summer signing Sebastien Haller was diagnosed with cancer hence ruling him out for a large part of next season.

As the English Championship got underway over the weekend, West Bromwich Albion officially resumed their push to gain promotion to the English Premier League by taking on Middlesbrough at the Riverside.

West Brom held their own at a very difficult ground for visiting teams and left with a point following a 1-1 draw. Coach of the team Steve Bruce reserved special praises for Nigeria international defender Semi Ajayi.

Ajayi was by far the best player on the pitch for the visitors and he ensured Boro didn’t snatch all three points. The performance ranks among one of his best since he joined the team.

He joined the Baggies from the Millers in 2019 and has since made more than 100 league starts in Albion colours. Bruce, who took over the hotseat in February, says he has noticed a big step up from the 6ft 4in Nigeria international.

“Ajayi I have to say, he’s improved enormously since I’ve walked through the door,” Bruce said.

“I’ve enjoyed watching him, he’s a hell of a good defender. When he’s like he was on Saturday he’s big, strong, powerful, quick, he gave a mountain of a performance, especially second half.”

Kelechi Nwakali didn’t have a game to remember when his new team Ponferradina took on fellow promotion hopefuls Deportivo La Coruna in a pre season game yesterday.

Nwakali joined the team around two weeks ago on a free transfer following the termination of his contract by Huesca after he turned up late from representing Nigeria at the Africa Cup of Nations.

Now at Ponferradina and with a lot to prove that he hasn’t lost his way. He will be hoping for better results than what happened in yesterday’s friendly game where he was introduced as a second half substitute.

Ponferradina were trashed 7-1 with Nwakali coming on in the 69th minute with scores already at 6-0 against his team. They will be hoping for better fortune when they get their season underway against FC Cartagena on the 15th of August.

Chelsea officially announced the signing of Carney Chukwuemeka two days ago as part of the process of beefing up their squad for the challenge of the new season.

Chukwuemeka was signed from Aston Villa for a fee of £20m with one year left to go on his deal at Villa Park. The 18 year old is a product of the Aston Villa youth team progressing through till ranks before making his first team breakthrough last season.

He played 12 matches last season and did enough to convince Chelsea that he is worth that high amount with the club seeing him as a part of their long term future under their new project.

An English youth international, his name already suggest he has Nigerian roots and he didn’t shy away from acknowledging it when he was asked about his origin in a podcast from last season.

“Of course I’m Nigerian. My name says it all and I have strong ties with the country due to my parents. I watched their teams play when I am opportuned. I am familiar with most of the players in the team as well”, he said.

Watford started their campaign in the English Championship with a 1-0 win over Norwich City as they bid to return back to the English Premier League following relegation last summer.

In their squad for the game, the senior Nigeria international duo of Maduka Okoye and Samuel Kalu were not listed for the game. With the case of Okoye the most surprising considering the fact that he was at least expected to be on the bench.

It has now been confirmed that their omission has nothing to do with form rather it was due to a new rule in English football tag Rule 11. The Rule of 11 means that there can be no more than 11 non-homegrown players in a match-day squad.

Speaking on the club website, Giaretta said, “The rule of 11 will have some influence for now but we are all committed with Rob Edward’s aim of having only 11 non-homegrown players in the first-team squad after the window.

“It’s important we see August in a different way because things can still change until this month is over.”

The Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) has confirmed talks with the football federation of Portugal for an international friendly game during the next international break, as first reported by OwnGoalNigeria.com.

Three days ago we broke the news of talks between both countries over a friendly game following the postponement of the Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers billed for September.

That piece of information has now been confirmed by the general secretary of the Nigeria Football Federation Muhammed Sanusi. Portugal are also opened to the game as it will help them prepare for the World Cup in Qatar, where they were take on Qatar.

“We are working on arranging a grade A friendly game with Portugal ahead of next FIFA window,” Sanusi told The PUNCH.

“Following the postponement of the AFCON a friendly game is necessary for the Eagles.

“Arrangements are in full gear and we are close to finalising the details. Once that is done a statement will be released by the Nigeria Football Federation.”

Napoli president Aurelio De Laurentiis drew the ire of African players when he revealed that he won’t be signing players from the continent unless they agree to snub the Africa Cup of Nations.

“I told them, “lads, don’t talk to me about Africans anymore!”‘ said De Laurentiis during a streamed event. ‘I love them, but either they sign something confirming they’ll back out of playing the Africa Cup of Nations, or otherwise between that tournament, the World Cup qualifiers in South America, these players are never available!

“We are the idiots who pay salaries only to send them all over the world playing for others”, he concluded.

The comment means he won’t be entirely happy if star striker Victor Osimhen goes away to represent Nigeria at the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations, which has been shifted to 2024. He will however not get his way if he stands against the will of the Nigerian forward if he is still at the club.

This much was made known to OwnGoalNigeria.com by the former agent of the Napoli forward, who said the president’s desire might appeal to other players but not Osimhen.

” The president knows he can’t try it with Osimhen. Even the last AFCON Osimhen wanted to go if not for Covid. He tells clubs he doesn’t joke with the national team of Nigeria and it will be war if he dare try to stop him from playing for Nigeria”, he told OwnGoalNigeria.com.

” I remember at Wolfsburg back then. He was slightly injured and got a call up. The club wanted him to shun it. He insisted on going, they had to send a medical report to the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) before he agreed to snub the call up. His passion and dedication to Nigeria can’t be faulted and everyone around him knows it. So emotional about playing for Super Eagles”, he concluded.

German Bundesliga side Borussia Dortmund have moved sharply to replace Ivory Coast striker Sebastien Haller who was diagnosed with testicular cancer.

The forward was signed as a replacement for  Erling Haaland who joined Manchester City. However he was diagnosed with cancer and has since started undergoing treatment which could see him miss a lot of  games when the season begins.

Dortmund according to several reports reached an agreement with Almeria to sign Nigeria international striker Sadiq Umar for a fee in the region of €25m but with several add ons which will see it rise to €30m.

Reports in Spain talked about a mysterious team based abroad reaching an agreement with Almeria for the lanky forward. Further reports indicate that the club happens to be the Bundesliga side.

Sadiq have already vacated his house in Spain further adding fuel to the speculation that he is indeed on the move to the German side. Sources close to the forward declined to comment when asked by OwnGoalNigeria.com if the report is true.

Napoli president Aurelio De Laurentiis says he isn’t open to signing more African players unless they agree to certain conditions, OwnGoalNigeria.com reports.

The president of the Serie A side has in the last two transfer window signed two African players in Victor Osimhen and Zambo Anguissa but he isn’t sure of signing more African players. He also sanctioned the sale of an African player in Kalidou Koulibaly who joined Chelsea.

In an interview made available to OwnGoalNigeria.com, the president spoke on a wide range of issues including why he won’t be opened to signing more African players unless under certain conditions. His explanation is unconnected with the row between Osimhen and Anguissa in training.

He said ” Don’t talk to me about African footballers anymore. I only take them if they sign that they won’t play at the Africa Cup of Nations. You can’t pay them big money and have them play elsewhere when you need them the most”, he said.

His statement is a warning to the duo of Osimhen and Anguissa who are both pivotal players for their national team. Anguissa was at the last Africa Cup of Nations with Osimhen missing it through injury.

The next AFCON in 2024 will no doubt pitch the duo against the eccentric club president as he won’t be entirely happy losing them to the tournament in January. That is if they are still with the club.