Official: Chuba Akpom joins Lille as ex-Arsenal star becomes fourth Nigerian in club’s history

Chuba Akpom has joined Lille on loan from Ajax, becoming the fourth Nigerian player in the club’s history, Soccernet.football reports.

The 29-year-old forward, who previously played for Arsenal, has signed a season-long loan deal with an option for Lille to make the move permanent. The French club announced his arrival on Sunday as they strengthen their attacking options for the second half of the campaign.

Akpom follows in the footsteps of Victor Osimhen, Vincent Enyeama, and Peter Odemwingie as Nigerian players to represent Lille. His addition provides Les Dogues with a versatile attacking option capable of playing as a centre-forward or in a deeper attacking role.

Born in London on October 9, 1995, Akpom joined Arsenal’s academy at the age of six and progressed through the ranks, making his senior debut at just 17.

However, with competition for places fierce under Arsène Wenger, the young striker embarked on several loan spells, gaining experience at clubs including Brentford, Coventry, Nottingham Forest, and Brighton.

In 2018, he made a permanent move to Greek side PAOK Salonika, where he enjoyed a breakthrough spell. Akpom scored 29 goals across three seasons and played a crucial role in PAOK’s historic league and cup double in 2019. His performances also saw him feature in all three major UEFA competitions—Champions League, Europa League, and Conference League—scoring in each of them.

Akpom’s return to English football in 2020 with Middlesbrough saw him gradually find his best form. His standout campaign came in 2022-23 when he netted an impressive 29 goals in 42 appearances, winning the Championship’s Golden Boot and being named the league’s best player.

That form earned him a high-profile transfer to Ajax in the summer of 2023. The move to the Dutch giants saw him contribute 15 goals in 36 games across all competitions last season, with four of those coming in the Europa League. This season, he had already scored eight times before securing his switch to Ligue 1.

With 99 professional goals to his name, his experience and adaptability could prove vital for Paulo Fonseca’s side as they compete on multiple fronts, including Ligue 1, the Champions League, and the Coupe de France.