Official: Nigerian whizkid who trained with Neymar and Mbappe at PSG seals Livingston move

Livingston have secured the loan signing of Nigerian winger Meshack Ubochioma from Dundee United for the remainder of the season, Soccernet.football reports.

The move aims to provide the talented 23-year-old with much-needed playing time after a limited role at Tannadice this season.

Ubochioma joined Dundee United in the summer from Hungarian side Zalaegerszegi TE and has made three appearances, including a dramatic 99th-minute winner against Hibernian in October. Despite his impactful moments, opportunities have been scarce, leaving him eager for regular action.

The journey of the Onuimo-born winger has been remarkable. Ubochioma first gained attention as a teenager in south-east Nigeria before earning a trial with Ligue 1 giants Paris Saint-Germain, where he trained alongside superstars Neymar, Kylian Mbappe, and Marco Verratti. Although the Paris adventure didn’t yield a contract, it paved the way for a move to Hungary through a diplomatic football partnership between Nigeria and Hungary.

At Zalaegerszegi TE, Ubochioma excelled, particularly during a loan stint at Slovenian side NK Nafta. He netted 12 goals in 17 games, including a hat-trick, and returned to ZTE to play a vital role in their historic Magyar Kupa triumph in 2023.

His performances helped the club secure European competition, where he started both legs against Croatia’s NK Osijek in the UEFA Europa Conference League qualifiers.

Dundee United manager Jim Goodwin expressed confidence in Ubochioma’s potential, describing him as “too good” for the Scottish Championship. Speaking about the loan, Goodwin said: “Meshack is frustrated with his lack of game time, but that’s down to the performances of others. He’s an excellent player, and this loan will allow him to enjoy football again while helping Livingston in their promotion push. He remains a part of our long-term plans.”

David Martindale’s Livingston will hope Ubochioma can make an immediate impact, with a debut potentially on the cards in Saturday’s Scottish Cup tie against Ross County.