Nigerian youngster reveal stance on future amid Coventry & Southampton interest

Nigerian youngster Prosper Obah has made a key decision on his future at Shakhtar Donetsk despite growing transfer interest ahead of the summer window, Afrik-Foot reports.

The 22-year-old forward has attracted interest from several clubs in Europe’s major leagues, especially in England, with teams monitoring his progress closely after his impressive impact in Ukraine.

Obah began his development at Nigerian academy side Supreme Kings FC before earning his first move abroad to join the youth setup of Portuguese club Vizela at a very young age. He stood out with his talent and earned promotion to the senior team, where he went on to score six goals in 33 appearances.

He later joined Ukrainian side LNZ Cherkasy last summer, where he scored seven goals and provided four assists in the first half of the Ukrainian league season.

His performances earned him a move to Shakhtar Donetsk during the January transfer window and he has continued his strong rise, helping the club secure the league title with games to spare after they missed out on the championship to rivals Dynamo Kyiv last season.

Prosper Obah to stay at Shakhtar Donetsk despite transfer interest

Nigerian youngster Prosper Obah made an immediate impact after moving to Shakhtar earlier in the year and was on target in a 2-1 win over Zorya Luhansk in April, which was pivotal in helping the club to a 16th league title.

The 22-year-old has been closely monitored by several English clubs, with newly promoted Coventry City reportedly considering him as an attacking option ahead of their return to top-flight football. 

Meanwhile, Southampton, who could also feature in the Premier League next season and Middlesbrough are also interested in securing his services and are exploring the possibilities of a move during the summer transfer window.

Despite the growing interest and the prospect of a Premier League move, the 22-year-old is expected to remain at the Ukrainian club at least until next summer, with focus on achieving more success with Shakhtar rather than pushing for an immediate exit.

“It is not the time to talk about the future, especially after the amazing season he has had”, a source close to Obah said, via Footy-Africa.

“Prosper is relaxed and very calm about everything. We are all incredibly proud of the progress he has made since leaving Nigeria for Europe.”

Prosper Obah: Nigeria’s next big star?

Obah’s journey remains an incredible one, from an academy in Nigeria to becoming a player attracting interest from top European clubs given how impressive he has been in recent months.

While a move to the Premier League remains a possibility in the future, his current focus remains on establishing himself further at Shakhtar Donetsk and if his progress continues on this trajectory, more clubs are expected to join the race for his signature in the coming months.

His form could also open the door to a national team call-up, with Nigeria currently in a rebuilding phase after missing out on consecutive FIFA World Cup editions, including the upcoming tournament in the United States, Mexico and Canada.

The 22-year-old could be in contention for a place in head coach Eric Chelle’s squad for the upcoming Unity Cup and even if he misses out, his performances suggest that an invitation to the Super Eagles is only a matter of time.

For now, Obah remains focused on his development in Ukraine, as he hopes to build on his impressive start, which could see him secure a move to one of Europe’s major clubs in the future.