Super Eagles: What influenced Peter Olayinka’s move to Al Wehda — two reasons revealed

Super Eagles forward Peter Olayinka has completed a move to Saudi Arabian outfit Al Wehda after leaving APOEL Nicosia, Afrik-Foot reports.

The 30-year-old only joined the Cypriot club earlier this year but has now left after just a few months to move to the Middle East, where he has signed a two-year contract.

Olayinka becomes the third Nigerian player in Al Wehda’s history, following in the footsteps of former Super Eagles striker Odion Ighalo and Augustine Oladapo. Ighalo reportedly played a role in influencing Olayinka’s decision to join the club after enjoying a successful spell there himself.

The Nigerian forward previously played for the likes of Dukla Prague and Slavia Prague, where he made a name for himself in the Czech league, before later joining Serbian giants Red Star Belgrade.

However, Olayinka has now embarked on a new chapter in Saudi Arabia and will be hoping to help Al Wehda secure an immediate return to the top flight after their relegation last season.

Olayinka: Why Super Eagles striker joined Al Wehda

Olayinka’s decision to move to Al Wehda came as a surprise to many, especially considering that he only joined APOEL a few months ago.

However, according to Footy-Africa, there were two reasons behind the Nigerian’s decision to make the move.

The first major factor was the financial package offered by Al Wehda, which proved difficult to turn down. The Saudi Arabian club presented Olayinka with a lucrative offer, and at this stage of his career, having already turned 30, the forward opted to accept the deal and move to the Middle East.

Olayinka is expected to earn around €2 million per year during his time at the club, a figure that is significantly higher than what he previously earned at APOEL and the attractive financial package ultimately played a major role in convincing the Super Eagles forward to make the switch.

Another reason behind Olayinka’s decision was the opportunity to play more regularly. The 30-year-old has seen his form dip in recent seasons and needed a club where he could get consistent playing time and play a more important role.

Al Wehda offers him that opportunity, with the club looking to bounce back to the Saudi top flight after being relegated last season.

The Super Eagles striker is expected to have a more prominent role in attack and could become an important player in their promotion campaign. The move also gives Olayinka the chance to operate away from the spotlight and enjoy a new environment where he can rediscover his form.

He will now be hoping the move can help him get back to his best while also playing a key role in Al Wehda’s promotion push.

The Super Eagles star could make his debut for the club when they face Al-Zulfi on Wednesday in the Saudi Division 1 and will be hoping to make an instant impact.