Nigeria Professional League (NPFL) 2023/24 – Full list of completed transfers

The Nigeria Professional League (NPFL) is the league that pays Africa's third highest winners fee.

It has produced great players that have gone on to shine in Europe and other world leagues.

Despite the plethora of talent that abounds n the country, the NPFL is still to reach its full potential. One thing that has continued to dog the league is the non-structure of its calendar.

The NPFL has several deficiencies. The coordination of the NPFL transfer Business is less than professional. The clubs have struggled to conduct their affairs professionally. A few clubs have tried to maintain a semblance of professionalism.

Clubs like Enyimba, Remo Stars, newly promoted Sporting Lagos and Rivers United are some clubs that have been active in the market.

Yet, for all the efforts put into making the league a sponsors' delight, affairs regarding transfers in the NPFL have been anything but professional. A lot has been shrouded in secrecy, with details of the deals a mystery.

Below are some concluded deals ahead of the 2023/24 season.

NPFL 2023/24 transfers

Rivers United

Rivers Utd has signed several players and let others go in preparation for their continental campaign. After a strong finish in the regular season, they fell short in the NPFL Super Six Playoffs, where they finished third.

IN

Deputy Echeta (forward) – Bendel Insurance
John Uche Akubueze (defender) – Enugu Rangers
Ebedebiri Endurance (defender) – Bayelsa Utd
Yao Kouassi Bernard (Forward) – TS Galaxy
Fatai Abdullahi (Midfielder) – Enyimba
Adeleke Adekunle David (Defender) – Enyimba
Asiegbu Shedrack (Midfielder) – Enugu Rangers
Samuel Antwi (Right Winger) – King Faisal (Ghana)
Ossy Martins
Alex Oyowah (Midfielder) – Bayelsa United
Sadiq Abubakar (Winger) – Enyimba

OUT

Morice Chukwu (Forward) – Singida Fountain Gate FC
Darlington Ovunda (Goalkeeper) – Shooting Stars
Malachi Ohawume (Forward) – Enugu Rangers
Fabian Nworie Maduabuchi (Defender) – Remo Stars FC
Muyiwa Adeola Fehintola (Right-Back) – Coton Sport FC (Benin)
Osagie Onisodumeya (Goalkeeper) – Bayelsa United
Paul Odeh (Left Winger) – Wikki Tourists
Augustine Okejepha (Midfielder) – Kano Pillars
Akpesiri Naibe (Forward) – Sporting Lagos

Enyimba

Enyimba of Aba are the league champions and will contest in the CAF Champions League. They have not signed many players, but have let several of their playing staff leave. The transfer window is over, and they can still get a few deals over the line for the NPFL season and the CAF Champions League.

IN

Anthony Okachi (Forward) – Shooting Stars
Ogbu Ogechukwu (Midfielder) – Sunshine Stars
Joseph Atule (Forward) – Lobi Stars

OUT

John Noble (Goalkeeper) – Tabora United (Tanzania)
Emeka Obioma (Forward) – Nahdat Zemamra (Morocco)
Philip Ozor
Chigozie Obasi
Adekunle Adeleke David (midfielder) – Rivers United
Fatai Abdullahi (Defender) – Rivers United
Samuel Kalu
Moses Omoduemuke
Ademola Adebambo (Winger) – Katsina United
Othuke Egbo
Sadiq Abubakar (Winger) – Rivers United

Enugu Rangers

IN

Kalu Nweke (Midfielder) – Abia Warriors
Malachi Ohawume (Forward) – Rivers United
Ifeanyi Ogba (Forward) – Akwa United
Josiah Michael – Yobe Desert Stars
Chukwuemeka Onyia – Wikki Tourists
Jonas Emmanuel (Forward) – Niger Tornadoes
Ifeanyi Onyebuchi (Defender) – Plateau United
Chinedu Ibe (Midfielder) – Nasarawa United
Opubo Japhet (Goalkeeper) – Sunshine Stars
Isaac Saviour (Midfielder) – Vandrezzer FC
Arunta Elmer (Winger) Heartland FC
Ikenna Stephen (Defender) – Abia Warriors
Kelechi Edeh (Winger) – MTA Sports FC
Austin Opara (Defender) – Plateau United
Kazeem Ogunleye (Midfielder) – Plateau United

OUT

John Uche Akubueze (Defender) – Rivers United
Asiegbu Shedrack (Midfielder) – Rivers United
Mike Ibe Okoro (Midfielder) – Katsina United
Saidu Adamu – Kano Pillars
Adams Musa – Kano pillars
Eboko Ikechukwu (Forward) – Giravanz Kitakyushu (Japan)
Chukwuebuka Anthony – Akwa United
Hadi Mohammed – Akwa United

Akwa United

IN

Akintunde Bala (Defender) – 3SC
Emmanuel James (Defender) – Yobe Desert Stars
Edidiong Ezekiel Enobong (Forward) – Remo Stars
Nurudeen Badmus – Dakkada
Opamaye Gbenga – Remo Stars
Hadi Mohammed – Enugu Rangers
Chukwuebuka Anthony – Enugu Rangers
Mubarak Said – Lobi Stars
Heutchou Gerome – Katsina United
Samuel Ganda – Bayelsa United
Babatunde Solomon – Niger Tornadoes
William Sunday – Kano Pillars
Abdul Rasheed Abiodun – Remo Stars
Rilwan Sadiq – Sunshine Stars

OUT

Taiye Murtala (Right-Back) – Shooting Stars
Moses Effiong (Winger) – Katsina United
James Ajako (Defender) – FUS Rabat
Ifeanyi Ogba (Forward) – Enugu Rangers
Ndifreke Effiong (Forward) – Olympique Club De Safi (Morocco)
Sadiq Yusuf (Forward) – Kwara United

Heartland

OUT

Jonathan Alukwu (Left Winger) – Sporting Lagos
Arunta Elmer (Winger) Enugu Rangers

Sporting Lagos

IN

Ekene Nero Olisema (Forward) – Warri Wolves
Jonathan Alukwu (Left Winger) – Heartland FC
Junior Lokosa (Forward) – Remo Stars
Godwin Odibo (Right Winger) – Remo Stars
Chisom Ngomere (Midfield) – Sunshine Stars
Godwin Udoh – (Forward) – 3SC
Henry Nnamdi (midfielder) – Dakkada FC
Ufere Chinedu (Midfielder) – Doma United
Akpesiri Naibe (Forward) – Rivers United

OUT

Abiodun Odunayo Taiwo
Akanni Akeem
Daniel Onah
Daniel Simon
Godswill Taro
Oluwayemi Afere
Raji Usman
Temidayo Okanlawon
Ugochukwu Okafor
Wisdom Samuel
Kalu Chukwuemeka
Femi Ladeinde

Remo Stars

Remo Stars are also on the continent. The Ikenne-based side finished second in the NPFL Super Six to grab a Champions League ticket. They have also been active in the transfer window.

IN

Jide Fatokun (Midfield) – Kwara United
Victor Collins (Defender) – Nasarawa United
Habib Yakub (Right-Back) – Sunshine Stars
Samad Kadiri (Forward) – Kwara United
Dela Akorli (Forward) – Kotoku Royals
Alimi Sikiru (Forward) – Shooting Stars
Fabian Nworie Maduabuchi (Defender) – Rivers United
Nnaemeka Achi (Midfield) – Sunshine Stars
Imo Ikemdinachi – Left-Back – Sunshine Stars
Yinusa Sheriff (Defender) – Bayelsa Utd
Tochukwu Michael (Midfield) – Plateau United
Isaac James Ogiri (Midfield) – Nasarawa United
Abraham Marcus (Left Winger) – FC Porto B

OUT

Junior Lokosa (Forward) – Sporting Lagos
Godwin Odibo (Right Winger) – Sporting Lagos
Morufdeen Moshood (Forward) – Leixões (Portugal)
Monsuru Bashiru (Defender)
Edidiong Ezekiel Enobong (Forward) – Akwa United
Awoyemi Abiodun (Right-Back)
Opamaye Gbenga – Akwa United
Abdul Rasheed Abiodun – Akwa United
Ebenezer Akinsanmiro – Inter Milan U-19

Sunshine Stars

IN

Lucky Nwafor Chinecherem (Forward) – Masaka United (Uganda)

OUT

Habib Yakub (Right-Back) – Remo Stars
Nnaemeka Achi (Midfield) – Remo Stars
Imo Ikemdinachi (Left-Back) – Remo Stars
Chisom Ngomere (Midfield) – Sporting Lagos
Aaron Wande (Midfield) – FC Cilicia (Armenia)
Ogbu Ogechukwu (Midfield) – Enyimba
Opubo Japhet (Goalkeeper) – Enugu Rangers
Ekerete Udoh (Defender) – Al Najaf (Iraq)

Shooting Stars

IN

Darlington Ovunda (Goalkeeper) – Rivers United
Daddy Abdulrahman (Midfield) – El-Kanemi Warriors
Taiye Murtala (Right-Back) – Akwa United
Olamide Benjamin Ogunbajo (Midfield) – Al-Hilal
Emeka Obiora (Defender) – El Kanemi Warriors
Anozie Chinedu (goalkeeper) – Plateau United
Michael Enaruma (Defender)
Abdulkareem Mumuni (Forward)
Oke Kayode Solomon (Forward) – Crown FC
Anayo Ogbonna (Forward) – Gombe United
Olamilekan Oderinde – 3SC Team B
Gbolagade Odelowo (Defender)
Babatunde Gbolahan
Ambrose Ogundahunsola
Ayobami Adekunle (Forward) – ASPAC FC (Benin Rep.)
Bamidele Samuel Ayodeji (Defender) – Kwara United
Mustapha Adams (Forward) – Triple 44 FA
Ayobami Junior Abiodun (Midfielder) –
Olawale Tosin (Midfielder) – 3SC Team B

OUT

Ezekiel Tamara (Midfield) – Bendel Insurance
Kester Oahimijie (Midfield) – Bendel Insurance
Alimi Sikiru (Forward) – Remo Stars
Dabani Godwin Alao (Forward) – Karamone FC
Akintunde Bala (Defender) – Akwa United
Godwin Udoh – (Forward) – Sporting Lagos
Bamidele Adeniyi (Goalkeeper) – Plateau United

Kwara Utd

IN

Oluwatosin Bamidele (Right-Winger) – Rahbam FC
Isaiah Ejeh (Defender) – Mjällby AIF
Ayo Adejubu – 3SC
Sadiq Yusuf (Forward) – Akwa United

OUT

Jide Fatokun (Midfield) – Remo Stars
Samad Kadiri (Forward )- Remo Stars
Sani Faisal (Left-Back) – Al-Wahda SC
Bamidele Samuel Ayodeji (Defender) – 3SC

Abia Warriors

OUT

Kalu Nweke (Midfield) – Enugu Rangers
Ikenna Stephen (Defender) – Enugu Rangers

Bendel Insurance

The Benin Arsenal were successful in getting a continental ticket. They were the surprise package of the NPFL 2022/23 season. Their Federation Cup victory over Enugu Rangers helped them to the CAF Confederation Cup ticket. They have had to fortify their squad ahead of the challenge.