By Oluwadamilola Olaleye
Nigerian forward Gift Orban is reportedly nearing a move to French Ligue 1 side FC Toulouse, with negotiations ongoing between his representatives and German Bundesliga outfit TSG Hoffenheim.
Although no agreement has yet been reached between the two clubs, sources indicate that Hoffenheim are open to sanctioning Orban’s departure this summer if their valuation of the player is met.
The 21-year-old has already been excused from all club-related activities as talks progress.
Orban joined Hoffenheim in the January 2025 transfer window and made an instant impact, scoring four goals in 13 league appearances under head coach Christian Ilzer.
However, his role has since diminished following a busy summer transfer window that saw increased competition from Tim Lemperle, Fisnik Asllani, and teenage striker Max Moerstedt, who impressed during pre-season.
While an injury to Czech international Adam Hlozek could briefly open the door for more playing time, Hoffenheim insiders suggest Orban’s long-term future at the club remains unlikely.
Toulouse have emerged as frontrunners for his signature, with the French side keen to bolster their attacking options before the close of the transfer window.
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.
