Club Brugge explain Onyedika’s Super Cup absence amid Eintracht Frankfurt bid

Raphael Onyedika’s omission from Club Brugge’s squad for the Belgian Super Cup has intensified speculation over the Nigerian midfielder’s imminent departure, with Bundesliga side Eintracht Frankfurt reportedly closing in on his signature.

The Super Eagles star was notably absent from Club Brugge’s 22-man squad for the season-opening showpiece, prompting widespread reports that the midfielder was on the verge of completing a move to Germany.

However, Club Brugge have dismissed suggestions that his absence was transfer-related, insisting that the 24-year-old was unavailable due to illness.

In a statement published on the club’s official website, the Belgian champions clarified that Onyedika was left out of the squad because of health concerns and not ongoing transfer negotiations.

Despite the club’s explanation, reports continue to link the former FC Ebedei midfielder with a switch to Eintracht Frankfurt, with the Bundesliga outfit said to have reached an agreement with Club Brugge over his transfer.

The Belgian club are reportedly prepared to sanction the sale of the Nigerian international for a fee of around €10 million, with Onyedika entering the final year of his current contract.

The midfielder is expected to travel to Germany in the coming days to undergo a routine medical should the final details of the deal be completed before his official unveiling.

Since joining Club Brugge from Danish side FC Midtjylland in the summer of 2022, Onyedika has developed into one of the Belgian Pro League’s standout midfielders. The Super Eagles star has registered nine goals and six assists in 183 appearances across all competitions, playing a key role in the club’s domestic success and UEFA Champions League campaigns.

If the move materialises, Onyedika will become the latest Nigerian international to feature in the Bundesliga, where he is expected to bolster Eintracht Frankfurt’s midfield ahead of the 2026/27 season.

Samuel Ahmadu

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.

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