Nigeria Players Abroad
Basel reject Al-Fateh’s €3m offer for Nigeria winger Philip Otele
FC Basel have turned down a €3 million bid from Saudi Pro League club Al-Fateh for Nigeria international Philip Otele, with the Swiss side reportedly seeking €4 million for the 27-year-old winger.
Otele has already agreed personal terms with Al-Fateh, meaning a transfer could move forward if the Saudi club can reach an agreement with Basel over the fee. The rejection of the opening offer leaves Al-Fateh with the choice of increasing their bid to try to secure the player.
Basel are in a strong negotiating position because Otele is under contract with the club until 2028. The Swiss side signed him in July 2025 and are believed to value his services at around €4 million.
That figure is also the current valuation placed on Otele by Transfermarkt. However, it represents a notable reduction from Basel’s reported asking price earlier this year, when the club were said to have wanted approximately €7 million for the attacker.
The winger’s future has attracted interest from several clubs. English Championship side Birmingham City and Italian Serie A club Lecce have both been linked with Otele, while Al-Fateh have now made the first known formal approach.
Birmingham City and Lecce could increase the pressure on Basel if either club decides to turn its interest into an official offer. For now, Al-Fateh remain the only club reported to have submitted a bid, although their initial proposal falls €1 million short of Basel’s current valuation.
Otele, who has won five caps for Nigeria, also spent time on loan with German club Hamburger SV. The agreement reportedly included an option for Hamburger SV to sign him permanently for a fee of between €4.5 million and €5 million, but that move did not materialise.
Basel’s willingness to consider a lower fee than the one reported in January could help negotiations with Al-Fateh, but the two clubs have yet to reach an agreement. The immediate focus will be on whether the Saudi Pro League side return with an improved offer.
Otele’s agreement on personal terms means the main obstacle to the transfer is currently the gap between the clubs’ valuations. Al-Fateh must decide whether to raise their proposal, while Basel will weigh that offer against the player’s long-term contract and interest from elsewhere.
The Nigerian’s next move therefore remains unresolved, with his future likely to depend on whether Al-Fateh can bridge the difference between their €3 million opening bid and Basel’s €4 million demand.
