Cardiff City have confirmed the signing of Nigerian defender Gabriel Osho from French side AJ Auxerre on a permanent deal, Soccernet.ng reports.
The 27-year-old centre-back has put pen to paper on a four-year contract that will run until the summer of 2029, with the move subject to international clearance. The transfer fee remains undisclosed, however.
Osho’s return to English football comes 414 days after he joined Auxerre on 11 July 2024. His spell in France has now ended after just over a year, as he becomes a major addition to Cardiff’s defensive options.
The move also reunites Osho with English football, where he previously played for Luton Town, helping them to Premier League promotion before making the switch to Ligue 1.
Cardiff, now competing in League One following relegation, see Osho’s arrival as a statement signing under manager Brian Barry-Murphy, as they aim to bounce back to the Championship.
The club announced the deal on Friday, August 29, stating:
“Cardiff City FC are delighted to welcome central defender Gabriel Osho to the Club. The 27-year-old arrives in the Welsh capital on a permanent deal from Ligue 1 outfit AJ Auxerre, signing a four-year contract with the Bluebirds for an undisclosed fee, subject to international clearance.”
Gabriel Osho on Move to England
“I’m really happy, and really excited. It’s been a long time in the works, so to finally be here at the stadium and in the city has been good. I’m buzzing to get going.
“Brian played a big part. It’s always important when the player has a good relationship with the manager. I had a really good time at Rochdale, and the connection I built with Brian and the staff there was pretty amazing. I think the relationship really was a contributing factor.
“I’ve been watching the games so far, and the atmosphere is amazing. Hopefully I can feed off the team’s momentum, get going straight away, and just keep the wins and the clean sheets going.” he told Cardiff City Tv.
Osho will immediately link up with his new teammates as Cardiff continue to rebuild their squad for the season ahead.