Super Eagle Akor Adams joins Venezia: Ranking Nigeria’s top 10 transfers to Serie A clubs

Akor Adams is on the verge of becoming one of the most expensive Nigerian footballers ever signed by an Italian club after Venezia reached a full agreement with Sevilla for the striker, Afrik-Foot reports.

The newly promoted Serie A side will pay a guaranteed €16 million, with another €7 million in performance-related bonuses that could take the total package to €23 million. Adams has already agreed personal terms, travelled to Italy for his medical, and is expected to join Giovanni Stroppa’s squad once the formalities are completed.

Sevilla have left the 26-year-old out of their pre-season plans, including the friendly against Wisła Kraków, to avoid any injury before the transfer is completed. Venezia, who have a rich history of signing Nigerian players, also beat late interest from French giants Marseille to land the Super Eagles forward.

The move makes Adams the fourth most expensive Nigerian ever signed by a Serie A club, joining a list dominated by some of the greatest Super Eagles stars of the modern era.

1. Victor Osimhen: Lille to Napoli (€78.9m)

No Nigerian transfer to Italy comes close to Victor Osimhen’s record-breaking move to Naples in September 2020.

Napoli agreed a deal worth €78.9 million, including performance bonuses and a player-exchange package involving four footballers. It smashed the club’s previous transfer record and made Osimhen one of Africa’s most expensive players.

The investment proved worthwhile. Osimhen fired Napoli to the 2022-23 Serie A title, became the league’s top scorer, won the Capocannoniere award and was later crowned African Footballer of the Year.

2. Samuel Chukwueze: Villarreal to AC Milan (€21.1m)

AC Milan spent just over €21 million to sign Chukwueze in July 2023, with bonuses capable of pushing the deal close to €28 million.

The winger arrived after helping Villarreal win the UEFA Europa League but struggled to become a regular starter at San Siro. Across 70 appearances, he scored eight goals and provided six assists before leaving on loan for Fulham. The Nigeria international is currently working to rebuild his AC Milan career under new manager Ruben Amorim.

3. Ademola Lookman: RB Leipzig to Atalanta (€16.1m)

Atalanta paid around €16.1 million to sign Lookman in 2022 after several loan spells across Europe.

It quickly became one of Serie A’s smartest transfers. Under Gian Piero Gasperini, Lookman developed into a world-class left-wing forward and famously scored a hat-trick in the 2024 Europa League final against Bayer Leverkusen to secure Atalanta’s first major European trophy.

His performances earned him a big-money move to Atlético Madrid earlier this year.

4. Akor Adams: Sevilla to Venezia (€16m plus €7m add-ons)

Adams now occupies fourth place. The guaranteed €16 million fee edges him ahead of several famous Super Eagles names, while the full package could rise to €23 million if performance targets are met.

With Venezia having just returned to Serie A, Adams is expected to lead the attack as the club fights to stay in Italy’s top division. Besides his primary target, Adams can also look to break three of the records Victor Osimhen set in his debut campaign in Serie A.

5. Sunday Oliseh: Ajax to Juventus (€10m)

Juventus signed Oliseh in 1999 after his outstanding displays at the 1998 FIFA World Cup for Nigeria and his exploits with Ajax Amsterdam.

The €10 million move also made him the first African player to join the Italian giants. However, competition from midfield stars including Zinedine Zidane, Edgar Davids and Antonio Conte limited his opportunities, and he left after just one season.

6. Ola Aina: Chelsea to Torino (€9.8m)

After impressing on loan, Torino activated Aina’s purchase option in 2019 for €9.8 million.

The versatile defender became a dependable and versatile full-back in Turin, making more than 100 appearances before returning to England with Nottingham Forest, where he has continued his impressive development.

7. Rafiu Durosinmi: Viktoria Plzeň to Pisa (€9m)

Pisa made Durosinmi their record signing in January 2026 with a €9 million deal that could rise to €11 million.

The striker arrived after scoring regularly in the Czech Republic, but injuries and Pisa’s relegation made his first Serie A experience difficult.

8. Stephen Makinwa: Atalanta to Palermo (€7.5m)

Palermo moved quickly for Makinwa in 2005 after his impressive spell with Atalanta.

The Sicilian club paid €7.5 million, making him one of their biggest signings at the time. He scored important goals in Serie A and the UEFA Cup before earning another major move a year later.

9. Cyriel Dessers: Genk to Cremonese (€6.5m)

Fresh from finishing as the Europa Conference League’s top scorer with Feyenoord, Dessers joined newly promoted Cremonese in 2022.

The €6.5 million transfer showed Serie A clubs believed in his finishing ability, although the club struggled throughout the campaign and suffered relegation after just one season.

10. Stephen Makinwa: Palermo to Lazio (€6.3m)

Makinwa appears twice on this list thanks to another significant transfer.

Lazio paid €6.3 million in 2006 to reunite him with coach Delio Rossi, but stiff competition for places meant he never established himself and spent much of his contract out on loan.

11. Maduka Okoye: Watford to Udinese (€6m)

Udinese signed Okoye in 2023 for €6 million, giving the Nigerian goalkeeper the chance to rebuild after a difficult spell in England.

The move proved successful. Strong performances in Serie A earned him a contract extension and renewed transfer interest from Italy’s biggest clubs. While Inter Milan and Juventus have been linked with a move, Okoye appears set to stay at Udinese for another season at least.