By Wale Mustapha
Nigerian forward Gift Orban is edging closer to a loan switch to Italian Serie A side Hellas Verona, according to reports from Sky Sports Italia.
The 22-year-old, currently on the books of Bundesliga outfit Hoffenheim, has attracted interest from several European clubs this summer, including French Ligue 1 side Toulouse and German rivals Cologne. Verona, however, are now seen as frontrunners to secure his signature.
Orban joined Hoffenheim on loan from Olympique Lyonnais in January and impressed with six goals in 18 appearances during the second half of the Bundesliga campaign. His performances were enough to put him on the radar of multiple European suitors seeking a young and clinical striker.
Hellas Verona began their Serie A campaign with a 1-1 draw against Udinese on Monday and are keen to bolster their attack before the transfer window closes.
For Orban, a potential move to Italy could represent another key step in his European journey, having previously made his mark in Norway with Stabæk and in Belgium with Gent before moving to France.
The Nigerian youth international remains highly rated for his pace, finishing, and ability to adapt quickly across leagues, and Verona are hopeful he can replicate that form in Serie A.
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.
