Nigeria international Anthony Nwakaeme is making an unexpected return to former club Trabzonspor.
This was announced via the club’s official X (formerly known as Twitter) account, where Nwakaeme revealed he will be back at the club for next season.
The former Hapoel Beer Sheva striker said: “Hello Trabzon fans, Nwakaeme is here. I want to use this opportunity to thank Mr. President Ertugul Dogan and Mr. Nevzat Kaya, and the champion coach Mr. Abdullah for reaching out to me and sharing the game plan they have for Trabzonspor for the new season.
“I really appreciate it so much. I want to say a big, big thank you to Trabzonspor fans, whom I call family. You keep on supporting me, never giving up on me. I see all your messages on social media, and I really appreciate every single one of you for your support. Nwakaeme is coming back.”
The former Super Eagles forward enjoyed a successful four-year stint at Trabzonspor from 2018 to 2022 before moving to the Saudi Pro League to join Al Fayha.
Nwakaeme at Trabzonspor
During his time with Trabzonspor, Nwakaeme made a significant impact, appearing in 145 matches and contributing 47 goals and 40 assists.
His performance on the field helped Trabzonspor secure three major trophies: the Turkish Cup, the Super Cup, and notably, the Süper Lig title in the 2021/22 season.
Nwakaeme's market value currently stands at 1.5 million euros. Now, two years after leaving Turkey for Saudi Arabia, the 35-year-old is set to return to Trabzonspor.
Having reached the end of his contract with Al Fayha, Nwakaeme will rejoin the purple and blue as a free agent.
During his time with Al Fayha, Nwakaeme faced a challenging season, making 27 appearances and recording six goals and five assists.
Despite these modest numbers, his experience and skill set are expected to bring valuable depth to Trabzonspor’s squad.
Nwakaeme's Super Eagles adventure
Nwakaeme’s international career with Nigeria has not exactly been the best for the striker's potential as Odion Ighalo was the top man during the time he was in his best form.
However, he has been called up four times to represent the national team but has only one appearance—the FIFA 2018 World Cup qualifier against Algeria in October 2017.