Nigeria Players Abroad
Nigerian-backed Aarhus Fremad clinches Danish second division title, earns promotion
By Dayo Awoniyi
Aarhus Fremad has secured promotion to Denmark’s First Division after winning the Second Division title, marking a historic milestone for the club under new Nigerian ownership.
The triumph comes barely a year after Nigerian tech billionaire Shola Akinlade acquired a 55% stake in the club in 2023. His strategic investment has fueled a transformation that helped the once semi-professional outfit rise to professional status and ultimately clinch the championship.
“This is a big difference for us,” said club director Lars Kruse, who attributed the club’s success to Akinlade’s financial and operational overhaul. “We were training once a day back then and couldn’t pay the players much. Now, we’ve moved to a full-time setup where they train four mornings a week.”
Player salaries have more than doubled—from around €700 to €1,800 per month—since the transition to full-time professionalism. Upgraded training facilities and improved working conditions have been key components of the club’s resurgence.
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The club’s promotion is especially meaningful after narrowly missing out last season. It also highlights Aarhus Fremad’s growing international connections, particularly with Nigeria.
Oluwasegun Olalere became the first Nigerian to join the team in 2023, and more players are expected as part of Akinlade’s long-term vision to create a pipeline for African talent to enter European football.
“We want to provide opportunities for the best African talent to move,” Akinlade said. “It’s about building a real pathway from Africa to Europe.”
Kruse emphasized the importance of ensuring a positive environment for incoming Nigerian players. “We want them to be well treated, live in a good place, and not feel homesick or isolated,” he said.
The partnership between Aarhus Fremad and Sporting Lagos—a Nigerian club also founded by Akinlade—has deepened, with Fremad’s technical staff visiting Lagos in January 2024 to strengthen collaboration.
“I really enjoy the collaboration with Shola and his team,” Kruse added. “Hopefully, we can convince more people in Danish football that foreign investment isn’t necessarily a bad thing.”
With promotion secured and new ambitions underway, Aarhus Fremad is now positioned as a rising force in Danish football—powered by international investment and a vision that bridges continents.
