Osayi-Samuel signs three-year deal with Birmingham City joining from Fernebahce on a free transfer

SUPER Eagles fullback Bright Osayi-Samuel has signed a three year contract with English Championship side Birmingham City that sees him join from Turkish side Fernebahce on a free transfer ahead of the 2025/26 season.

Osayi-Samuel, 27, who played for Queens Park Rangers (QPR) in the English Championship up until January 2021, is returning after four and a half years in Turkey where he made 178 appearances for Fernebahce. A versatile player who can play as a right-back, wing-back and as a winger, he becomes the Blues' fourth signing this week.

Birmingham City have just regained promotion to the second tier of English football and are having to beef up their squad for the challenge ahead next season. Osayi-Samuel is seem as a player with the experience to cope with the Championship, given that among other things, he has made 22 appearances for Nigeria since his debut in 2022 and was part of the squad which finished runners-up at the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations.

Last season, Osayi-Samuel played 37 matches for Fenerbahce, including nine in their continental run-in that saw the club reach the last-16 of the Europa League under Jose Mourinho. Osayi-Samuel is now expected to challenge Ethan Laird for the right-back berth at Birmingham City and could operate further forward in the wide positions as and when needed  to.

Very much still a part of Nigeria's Super eagles, last month, Osayi-Samuel played the full 90 minutes in Nigeria's  friendly with Russia that ended in a 1-1 draw. In the past, several English Premier League sides had been associated with a move for Osayi-Samuel, including Nottingham Forest, Leeds United and Crystal Palace.