Onuachu: Key reason Fenerbahce and Al Hilal face setback in transfer pursuit

Super Eagles forward Paul Onuachu looks increasingly likely to remain with Trabzonspor this summer, dealing a major blow to the hopes of clubs interested in signing him, Afrik-Foot reports.

Onuachu’s future has been the subject of speculation since the end of last season, with several clubs eager to lure him away from the Turkish Cup winners ahead of the new campaign.

The 32-year-old only rejoined Trabzonspor on a permanent deal from English club Southampton last summer after previously enjoying a successful loan spell with the Turkish side and the move turned out to be one of the club’s best piece of business.

He scored 26 goals in all competitions, including 22 in the Super Lig to finish as the league’s joint top scorer alongside Istanbul Basaksehir striker Eldor Shomurodov.

The Nigerian striker also delivered on the biggest stage, scoring both goals in Trabzonspor’s 2-1 victory over Konyaspor in the Turkish Cup final to secure a major trophy for the club last season.

Why Fenerbahce and Al Hilal could miss out on Onuachu

Fenerbahce and Al Hilal are among the clubs showing the strongest interest in signing Onuachu this summer, although they are far from the only teams monitoring his situation.

However, both clubs have now been dealt a significant setback in their pursuit of the Super Eagles striker.

According to Foot-Africa, Trabzonspor have no intention of selling Onuachu this summer because they consider him a vital part of their plans for next season. The club have reinforced that position by rejecting several offers for the Nigerian forward.

The Black Sea Storm have already turned down bids from both Al Hilal and Fenerbahce and are determined not to lose one of their most important players. They believe Onuachu will be crucial as they try to end Galatasaray’s dominance of the Turkish Super Lig and challenge for their first league title in several years.

Onuachu played a huge role in Trabzonspor’s success last season. Despite missing several matches while representing Nigeria at the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations, he still finished the campaign as one of the club’s most influential players.

The striker is also happy in Turkey and is not pushing for a move. He wants to continue playing in Europe, especially with the Super Eagles preparing for the 2027 AFCON qualifiers, which are scheduled to begin in September and remaining at Trabzonspor would help him stay in contention for Eric Chelle’s squad.

Only an irresistible offer is likely to persuade Trabzonspor to change their stance before the transfer window closes. Nevertheless, the club have already started looking at possible replacements should the situation change later in the summer, with Tolu Arokodare and Rafiu Durosinmi among the forwards they are monitoring.

As things stand, Onuachu is expected to remain at Trabzonspor for the 2026-27 season. He is set to report for pre-season with the rest of the squad and will once again be expected to lead the club’s attack as they look to build on last season’s success and mount a serious challenge for more silverware.