By Dayo Awoniyi
Belgian top-flight club Club Brugge has expressed strong interest in signing Nigerian winger Samuel Akere from Bulgarian side Botev Plovdiv ahead of the 2025/2026 season.
The 21-year-old has enjoyed a standout season in Bulgaria, registering seven goals and six assists across all competitions, drawing attention from several European clubs. With his contract set to expire next year, Akere has emerged as an attractive target for potential suitors.
Sources close to the negotiations confirm that Club Brugge has already made initial contact with Akere’s representatives, signaling their intent to secure a deal early in the summer transfer window.
Should the move materialize, Akere would join fellow Nigerian Raphael Onyedika at Brugge, strengthening the club’s Nigerian connection. Onyedika has been a regular fixture in the team’s midfield since arriving in 2022.
Akere’s current market value is estimated at €1 million, according to Transfermarkt, and Botev Plovdiv may be inclined to sell the winger rather than risk losing him on a free transfer in 2026.
A move to Belgium’s Jupiler Pro League would mark a significant step forward in Akere’s career, offering a bigger platform and greater visibility on the European stage.
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.
