By Dayo Awoniyi
Sheffield United have completed the signing of Nigerian forward Ehije Ukaki from Bulgarian side Botev Plovdiv, marking the Blades’ second Nigerian acquisition from the club in recent seasons.
Ukaki, 20, played a pivotal role in Botev Plovdiv’s Bulgarian Cup triumph last season and featured in their Europa League qualifying campaign, gaining valuable European experience.
The deal is considered a significant step forward in the striker’s career as he joins the English Championship side on a multi-year contract.
“I’m looking forward to coming to Sheffield to play for United and continue my development,” Ukaki said.
“I look forward to meeting the lads and getting started.”
His move follows the path of compatriot Christain Nwachukwu, who joined the Blades from Botev Plovdiv last season.
Both transfers were facilitated by Nigerian football agent Paul Ojo Omamomo, who continues to play a prominent role in exporting Nigerian talent to European clubs.
Sheffield United, known for nurturing young prospects, will be hoping Ukaki’s pace, technique, and goal-scoring ability can bolster their attack ahead of the new campaign.
Fans will be eager to see how the Nigerian forward adapts to the physical demands and intensity of English football at Bramall Lane.
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.
