By Dayo Awoniyi
French Ligue 2 outfit Troyes AC have completed the signing of Nigerian rising star Elijah Odede from Moldovan champions Sheriff Tiraspol in a deal worth around £2.5 million.
Odede, a product of grassroots side Ikon Allah Football Club in Nigeria, has enjoyed a rapid rise since turning professional with Sheriff. His pace, intelligent movement, and clinical finishing quickly established him as one of the most exciting prospects in the Moldovan Super League.
The teenage forward’s debut campaign proved outstanding, as his goals and assists powered Sheriff to the league title and a place in the UEFA Europa League qualifiers.
Odede particularly caught the eye in continental fixtures, delivering standout performances against Dutch side Utrecht and Belgian giants Anderlecht, before Sheriff bowed out of the competition.
Now set for a new chapter in France, Troyes believe Odede has the tools to thrive in Ligue 2 and eventually make the leap to top-flight football.
The deal was facilitated by Israeli-born agent Roni Layous, whose strong network across Europe helped secure the move.
With Troyes aiming for promotion this season, the arrival of Odede is seen as both a short-term boost to their attack and a long-term investment in one of Nigeria’s brightest young prospects.
Samuel Ahmadu is a distinguished multimedia journalist and women's football expert with over 15 years of experience in the industry. On the back of domestic engagement since 2008, he began his international career journey at Goal.com in February 2014, where he served as an African women's football correspondent for nearly eight years. During his tenure at Goal.com, Samuel covered major events such as three Women's Africa Cup of Nations (2016, 2018, 2022) and the 2015 FIFA Women's World Cup in Canada plus 2018 FIFA World Cup in Russia. His work at Goal.com earned him widespread acclaim, particularly for his in-depth profiles of African football stars, notably Asisat Oshoala, whose rise he documented from her early years to her breakthrough at the FIFA U20 Women's World Cup in 2014. Prior to his role at Goal.com, Samuel freelanced for various print and broadcast media outlets in Nigeria, including Graphics Newspaper, Radio Nigeria, Grace FM, and Savid Newspaper. His extensive experience and expertise led to his appointment to the Nigeria Football Federation's Standing Committee on Women's Football Development from 2016 to 2018. Since February 2018, Samuel has been the Social Media Manager for Nigeria's women's national teams.In 2019, Samuel joined the Confederation of African Football (CAF) as a women's football content contributor and was promoted to Women's Football Editor in 2021. His contributions to women's football continued as he worked as a Media Consultant for Content Creation and Editorials at the 2022 CAF Women's Champions League. Currently, Samuel also serves as the spokesman for the Nigeria Women Football League, further solidifying his influence and dedication to the growth of women's football in Africa.
