Trabzonspor Complete €5.5m Signing of Nigerian Midfielder Chibuike Nwaiwu

Turkish Super Lig giants Trabzonspor have completed the signing of Nigerian midfielder Chibuike Godfrey Nwaiwu on a long-term deal from Austrian Bundesliga side Wolfsberger AC.

The 22-year-old has signed a four-and-a-half-year contract after successfully completing his medicals in Istanbul, with the transfer officially confirmed by Trabzonspor in a statement submitted to Turkey’s Public Disclosure Platform (KAP).

According to the disclosure, Trabzonspor will pay a guaranteed €5.5 million transfer fee —approximately ₦9.5 billion —to Wolfsberger AC. The amount will be settled across seven instalments as a contract termination payment.

The agreement also includes performance-related add-ons, with the total value of the deal expected to rise depending on bonuses.

Nwaiwu’s move represents a major step forward in his career and sees him link up with fellow Nigerian Paul Onuachu at the Black Sea club.

In terms of personal terms, the midfielder will earn a guaranteed €350,000 (around ₦600 million) for the second half of the 2025–26 season. His salary will then increase to €700,000 per season (approximately ₦1.2 billion) for each of the remaining years of his contract. Trabzonspor also confirmed that five per cent of the player’s gross salary will be paid as a management service fee.

Nwaiwu impressed during his time at Wolfsberger AC, attracting interest from several European clubs before Trabzonspor moved decisively to secure his signature. The Turkish side believe the dynamic midfielder fits their long-term sporting project as they push for domestic success and sustained European qualification.

The transfer marks one of the most significant moves of Nwaiwu’s young career and underlines Trabzonspor’s growing investment in emerging African talent.

Samuel Ahmadu

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.

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