Super Eagles stars on the move as Awoniyi, Iheanacho and Onyedika seal summer transfers

The 2026 summer transfer window has brought significant changes for several Nigeria internationals, with Taiwo Awoniyi, Kelechi Iheanacho, Akor Adams and Raphael Onyedika among the Super Eagles players beginning new club careers across Europe.

Awoniyi completed a permanent transfer from Nottingham Forest to newly promoted Premier League side Coventry City in a deal reportedly worth £17m. The move ends the striker’s four-year stay at the City Ground, where his progress was affected by a serious injury and an inconsistent run of form.

The 27-year-old will now work under manager Frank Lampard as Coventry prepare for their return to the Premier League. The switch offers Awoniyi the prospect of more regular first-team football as he attempts to rediscover his best form and retain his place in the Super Eagles squad.

Coventry have also made Frank Onyeka’s move permanent after the midfielder initially joined on loan from Brentford. Onyeka played a significant part in the club’s promotion campaign and his performances helped persuade Coventry to secure his services on a full-time basis.

He will now face the challenge of competing in the Premier League as he looks to build on an influential loan spell.

Iheanacho has moved to Turkey after leaving Scottish champions Celtic to join Bursaspor. The experienced forward was part of Celtic’s squad during a successful spell that included domestic honours, but the club decided not to extend his contract beyond the agreed arrangement.

The transfer gives the former Manchester City and Leicester City striker another opportunity to revive his career and establish himself as an important player at Bursaspor.

Adams has completed a permanent move to Serie A side Venezia after departing Sevilla. Venezia announced the arrival of the Nigerian striker on 22 July, with the player signing a contract that runs until June 2030.

Adams joined Sevilla in January 2025 and made 37 appearances for the Spanish club, scoring 10 goals and supplying four assists. His move to Italy gives him another chance to make his mark in one of Europe’s leading leagues.

Onyedika has left Belgian club Club Brugge for Eintracht Frankfurt in the Bundesliga. The midfielder had become an important player for Club Brugge and attracted interest from several sides across Europe before choosing a move to Germany.

At Frankfurt, he will compete for a regular place in midfield. His transfer also gives him the opportunity to follow in the footsteps of Nigerian football great Austin ‘Jay-Jay’ Okocha, who previously represented the German club.

Gift Orban has joined newly promoted Turkish Super League club Amedspor on loan from Hoffenheim. The forward had a difficult spell at Hellas Verona, also on loan, and was unable to consistently reproduce the form that had made him one of Europe’s most highly regarded young attackers.

A regular run of matches in Turkey could help Orban rebuild his confidence and recover his goalscoring touch.

Experienced defender Chidozie Awaziem has moved from French Ligue 1 club Nantes to Konyaspor. The transfer takes him back to Turkey, where he previously played for Caykur Rizespor during a loan spell in 2019. His international and European experience is expected to bring leadership to Konyaspor’s defence.

Leon Balogun, meanwhile, has left Aris Limassol for Hungarian side ETO Gyor. The 38-year-old defender has played in Germany, England, Scotland and Cyprus during a long European career.

His experience at club and international level will be valuable to ETO Gyor as he enters the latter stages of his playing career.

The moves underline the wide-ranging nature of the careers of Nigeria’s senior internationals. Some players have changed clubs for greater playing time, while others are seeking fresh challenges or an opportunity to revive their form.

Their performances will be monitored closely by the Super Eagles as Nigeria approaches an important period on the international calendar.