Two-time Bundesliga winners, Hannover 96, have signed Nigeria-eligible South African defender, Ime Okon, on a four-year deal from Supersport United, Soccernet.ng reports.
The 21-year-old centre-back, in previous times, had trials with several European sides like FC Midtjylland of Denmark and Ukrainian heavyweights Dynamo Kyiv, but it was the German side that snapped him up after his contract with Supersport expired.
Okon now has his gaze fixed on helping Die Roten return to the Bundesliga in his time at the club, as they narrowly missed out on promotion in the just-concluded season.
Hannover 96’s Managing Director, Marcus Mann, praised Okon and mentioned he is a player they had been keeping tabs on before they decided to bring him on board.
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“Ime is a player with exciting potential and very good physical attributes. Christian Titz and André Kilian have been observing his development for some time,” Mann said in quotes relayed by Hannover’s official website.
“We then collected data on him during scouting and evaluated his athletic profile, which is exceptional.
“It’s quite clear that he will need time to adapt, but he is extremely willing to learn, so we definitely see the potential in him to develop really well.
“Now we want him to settle in well in Hannover and into our team,” the Managing Director concluded.
The left-footed defender was also delighted to have put pen to paper with Hannover, revealing his excitement and ambition.
“I’m very happy to be signing with Hannover 96. I’m very excited about this challenge of being able to play in Germany. I’m really looking forward to the club, wanting to become a better player and mature as a person,” the Bafana defender said.
“I would describe myself as a fast, robust defender – I’ll try to bring these strengths to bear from now on and thus help the team,” Okon concluded.
The promising defender was born in Johannesburg, South Africa, to a Nigerian father, meaning Okon has the option to represent either the Bafana Bafana or the Super Eagles, but it appears his future lies with the 2010 FIFA World Cup hosts.
“The whole Nigerian thing, I have Nigerian family, I speak to those from Nigeria, and they also say even if people pressurise me, I must make a choice that I must be happy with.
“I grew up here, everything I know is South African you know. For them, they wouldn’t be touched if I played for Bafana. South Africa is all I know. I can barely speak the native Nigerian language, but I know my roots.
“I’m pretty much South African, but I am also proudly Nigerian as much as I am proudly South African, but playing for Bafana, it’s been a dream, it’s a big thing, my mom always said, ‘one day Bafana Bafana! You know?
“So, it’s been a big thing for my family, growing up to be in a Bafana jersey would be great,” Okon said as previously reported by Soccernet.ng.
Okon has gone on to make his International stance clear, making his debut for Bafana Bafana in the 2025 COSAFA Cup.