FC Basel have confirmed the permanent signing of Nigerian winger Philip Otele following a blistering loan spell that saw him play a pivotal role in the club’s domestic double triumph, Soccernet.ng reports.
The 26-year-old, who arrived from UAE side Al Wahda in January, has signed a contract with the Swiss giants until the summer of 2028.
The deal, believed to be worth €3 million (approximately ₦5.4 billion), comes after Otele scored nine goals and provided five assists in just 21 appearances.
Otele’s impact was immediate and decisive, helping Basel clinch their first league and cup double in eight years. His dynamism and goal threat from the flanks quickly made him a fan favourite at St. Jakob-Park.
The Nigerian now enters a new chapter at Basel under incoming head coach Ludovic Magnin. The former Switzerland international replaces Fabio Celestini, who led the club to its historic success but has stepped down in search of a new challenge. Magnin, 46, joins from Lausanne-Sport, where he earned plaudits for a rollercoaster stint that included promotion, relegation, and eventual European qualification.
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Otele’s journey to Swiss football has been anything but conventional. He began his senior career at English lower league side Wolviston FC before moving to Lithuania’s Kauno Žalgiris in 2019. A breakthrough season in 2021 saw him score ten goals and help the club to back-to-back third-place finishes.
Stints in Romania with UTA Arad and CFR Cluj followed, with Otele hitting his stride in the 2023–24 campaign. He ended the season as Liga I’s joint top scorer with 18 goals, including several doubles and a standout overhead kick against champions FCSB.
A proposed £6 million move to Brighton was reportedly on the cards before he opted for a move to the Middle East with Al Wahda.
After just six months in the UAE, Otele joined Basel on loan and has now earned a full-time switch, capping a remarkable rise through European football.
Naturally right-footed, Otele is most comfortable on the left flank but can also operate on the right or as a central striker, offering versatility and a constant goal threat.
Otele will hope his upward trajectory continues at Basel as he works to earn a call-up to the Nigerian national team.