Club Brugge midfielder Raphael Onyedika could become the latest Nigerian footballer to move to the Premier League after being linked to London club Crystal Palace.
The 23-year-old has piqued the interest of clubs across Europe following his standout performances in the Belgian league and the UEFA Europa Conference League.
Onyedika has scored four goals and contributed two assists in 42 matches this season and has been one of the main driving forces behind Club Brugge’s impressive journey to the semi-finals of the Europa Conference League, where they will face Fiorentina.
While he’s just in his second season with the Belgian side after joining from Midtjylland in August 2022, the Nigeria international could already be playing in one of Europe’s top five leagues by the time the next season begins.
Crystal Palace join Everton in the race for Raphael Onyedika
According to The Sun, Premier League outfit Crystal Palace are the latest to show interest in Onyedika. The Eagles’ Sporting Director Dougie Freedman is said to have watched the midfielder last week and is keen on bringing him to Selhurst Park.
Crystal Palace are reportedly making plans for the summer, where key players Eberechi Eze and Michael Olise could be on the move. Should the club lose the aforementioned duo, The Sun reports that they would reinvest some of the money into bringing in Onyedika.
The midfielder won’t come cheap, though, with Club Brugge expected to demand a fee in the region of £20 million for their prized asset. Onyedika currently has three and a half years left on his contract with the Belgian side, which means they hold all the bargaining power over his valuation.
The race for Onyedika’s signature could, however, come down to which club is prepared to meet Club Brugge’s asking price, especially with Everton, Nottingham Forest and Galatasaray all said to be interested in signing the Nigerian.
