By Oluwadamilola Olaleye
2013 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) winner Kenneth Omeruo has signed with Romanian top-flight club CFR Cluj on a free transfer, following the expiration of his contract with Turkish side Kasımpaşa.
The veteran Nigerian defender has agreed to a one-year deal with the former Liga I champions, although specific terms of the contract have not been disclosed.
Omeruo, 30, brings a wealth of experience to Cluj, having played in several top European leagues.
A product of the Chelsea academy, he previously featured for Middlesbrough in England, ADO Den Haag in the Netherlands, and CD Leganés in Spain, where he made over 120 appearances across La Liga and Segunda División.
In Turkey, he represented Kasımpaşa and Alanyaspor, amassing over 100 matches in the Süper Lig.
A seasoned international, Omeruo has been capped over 60 times by Nigeria and played in two FIFA World Cups (2014 and 2018).
His leadership and experience are expected to bolster CFR Cluj’s defense as the club targets a strong finish in the upcoming Liga I season.
Omeruo’s move marks the latest chapter in a career spanning over a decade at the top level of football, and signals CFR Cluj’s intent to compete domestically and in Europe.
Samuel Ahmadu is a distinguished multimedia journalist and women's football expert with over 15 years of experience in the industry. He began his career 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.
