FC Porto Reject Permanent Move for Terem Moffi After Disappointing Loan Spell

Portuguese giants FC Porto have reportedly decided against activating the €8 million purchase option for Nigerian striker Terem Moffi following an underwhelming loan spell from French side OGC Nice.

The decision leaves the Super Eagles forward facing an uncertain future ahead of the summer transfer window, with a return to Nice also appearing unlikely due to his strained relationship with the Ligue 1 club.

Moffi joined Porto on loan after a turbulent departure from Nice, where he and teammate Jérémie Boga were reportedly assaulted by supporters in late 2025. Nice co-president Maurice Cohen had earlier dismissed the possibility of the pair returning to the club.

“They will not return to Nice, whether their buy options are triggered or not,” Cohen reportedly stated.

According to reports in Portugal, Porto initially explored the possibility of negotiating a lower transfer fee with Nice after the conclusion of Moffi’s temporary stay at the Estádio do Dragão.

However, talks eventually broke down, with the Portuguese club unwilling to proceed with the previously agreed €8 million clause.

The 26-year-old struggled to make a major impact during his short spell in Portugal, scoring two goals and providing one assist in 15 appearances across all competitions.

Portuguese publication A Bola reports that Porto have now shifted attention towards signing two alternative attacking options instead of pursuing a permanent deal for the Nigerian international.

Despite his recent struggles, Moffi continues to attract interest from several clubs across Europe.

West Ham United F.C. has long admired the striker and previously submitted a £25 million bid for him in January 2023 while searching for a potential successor to Michail Antonio.

Aston Villa F.C. also held discussions with his representatives during the same transfer window, while Serie A side S.S. Lazio are reportedly monitoring his situation as they seek attacking reinforcements.

Interest has also emerged from France, with Olympique de Marseille and Paris FC believed to be tracking the striker, while Turkish giants Fenerbahçe S.K. remain long-term admirers.

Moffi established himself as one of the most reliable forwards in Ligue 1 during spells with FC Lorient and Nice, scoring 54 league goals and contributing 11 assists in 148 appearances.

His impressive form convinced Nice to sign him permanently in January 2023 in a deal reportedly worth €30 million, which was a club-record package at the time.

The Nigerian forward first rose to prominence after joining Lorient from Belgian side K.V. Kortrijk in 2020. He scored 14 goals in his debut Ligue 1 season to help Lorient avoid relegation before netting 12 times during the opening half of the 2022–23 campaign, briefly competing with Kylian Mbappé and Neymar among the league’s leading scorers.

Moffi also enjoyed a strong start to life at Nice following his big-money move, recording nine goals and three assists in his first 20 appearances before finishing the 2023–24 season as the club’s top scorer with 11 goals.

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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