By Oluwadamilola Olaleye
Nigerian striker Simeon “Simy” Nwankwo is on the verge of completing a move to the Saudi Pro League, with reports indicating that he has agreed terms with Al-Orobah.
After several years in Italy, where he featured prominently for Crotone and Salernitana, the 32-year-old is set to begin a new chapter in his career in the Middle East.
According to sources close to the deal, Simy has signed a two-year contract with Al-Orobah, which also includes an option for a third season if both parties agree to an extension.
All administrative procedures and paperwork are understood to be finalized, paving the way for the striker’s official unveiling. His arrival in Saudi Arabia is scheduled for Friday, as he prepares to integrate into his new team and relaunch his career at the top level.
The move marks a significant shift for the experienced forward, who has spent over a decade in Europe and remains best remembered for his prolific spell at Crotone, where he scored 20 Serie A goals in the 2020/21 season, finishing as one of the league’s top scorers.
With Al-Orobah seeking to strengthen their attack, Simy’s signing is expected to add experience and firepower as the club looks to compete strongly in the Saudi Pro League.
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.
