Akpe Victory: Ligue 1 club join Rangers and Benfica in race for Nigerian youngster

Nigerian youngster Akpe Victory has continued to attract interest from several clubs across major European leagues ahead of the summer transfer window, Afrik-Foot reports.

The 19-year-old enjoyed a breakthrough campaign at Hungarian club Zalaegerszegi, where he quickly became an important member of the squad despite only joining the club during the winter transfer window.

Victory first moved to Europe in 2025 when he joined Lithuanian side FK Banga Gargždai. He enjoyed an impressive spell at the club, making 32 appearances across all competitions, including 28 in the league while also providing three assists. 

He then joined Zalaegerszegi in January and went on to make 16 appearances across all competitions for the Hungarian side. The Nigerian defender helped the club reach the Hungarian Cup final and was in action for the entire match, although they eventually lost to Ferencváros after extra time.

He was also influential in ZTE’s fifth-place finish in the league standings and scored in their 1-1 draw against Diósgyőr in February, earning his side a valuable point.

Strasbourg enter race to sign Nigerian youngster Akpe Victory

Nigerian wonderkid Akpe Victory has now been tipped for a major move away from Zalaegerszegi this summer after attracting interest from several clubs across Europe’s top leagues.

According to reports from TopMercato, French Ligue 1 side Strasbourg have become the latest club to show interest in the highly-rated defender and are currently considering a move ahead of next season.

The French club are impressed by how quickly the Nigerian defender has adapted to European football despite only recently leaving Nigeria and are reportedly prepared to secure his signature during the summer transfer window.

A move to Strasbourg would also suit the 19-year-old’s development, considering the club’s strong reputation for nurturing young talents. Victory is physically dominant in the air at 1.95m and is also a very fast defender, which would make him an ideal fit for French football.

However, Strasbourg are expected to face strong competition from Scottish giants Rangers and Portuguese side Benfica in the race for the Nigerian defender’s signature.

Rangers have recently stepped up their interest and are reportedly preparing a bid in the region of €5 million in the coming weeks. The Scottish club are hoping to sign the youngster as a potential defensive partner for fellow Nigerian Emmanuel Fernandez, or even as a replacement should Fernandez leave amid interest from other clubs.

Meanwhile, Benfica are also keen on signing the defender and remain firmly in the race, alongside Swiss giants Basel and several other European clubs monitoring his situation.

Akpe Victory: Super Eagles’ next big star?

Akpe Victory could become the next Nigerian talent to secure a move to one of Europe’s bigger clubs, especially considering the growing interest surrounding him in recent weeks.

A move to one of Europe’s major leagues would also place him in the spotlight and potentially move him closer to a future Super Eagles call-up as Nigeria continues rebuilding its squad for the future after missing out on consecutive editions of the FIFA World Cup tournament.

Strasbourg, Rangers and Benfica all possess strong reputations for developing young players and a move to any of the three clubs would be perfect for his development.

The Nigerian defender remains under contract at Zalaegerszegi until 2028, while the Hungarian club also possess the option to extend his deal by an additional year and he could become their most expensive sale in history if he eventually moves in the summer.

With the Hungarian season now concluded and the summer transfer window approaching, the 19-year-old will carefully consider his next move, which could play a major role in shaping his future.