Onuachu set to leave Southampton for Turkish side Trabzonspor over the next week

SUPER Eagles striker Paul Onuachu is closing on a move to Turkish side Trabzonspor on a permanent transfer from Southampton after moves by several English Premier League clubs to sign him fell through.

Onuachu, 29, joined Southampton for £18m from Belgian side KRC Genk in January but has failed to settle down at the St Mary’s Stadium, scoring no goal in his Premier League 11 appearances for them last campaign before they suffered relegation to the Championship at the end of the season. He is yet to make an appearance for the club in the English second tier so far this season.

Before his move to Southampton, Onuachu was on a good run of form in the first part of the 2023/23 season, banging in 16 goals from 19 games and a total of 85 goals in 134 appearances in his four-year stay in Belgium. However, the striker is set to leave his nightmare at Southampton to move to Super Lig side Trabzonspor on a permanent transfer, with the deal expected to be completed in the coming days.

Onuachu has reportedly agreed to join the Turkish Super Lig 2021/22 champions on a four-year contract. He was reportedly close to joining French Ligue1 outfit Metz on Friday’s deadline day but the deal fell through.

Should he finally move to Turkey, Onuachu will be welcomed by his compatriots like Ahmed Musa and Bright Osayi-Samuel both plying their trades for Sivasspor and Fenerbahce respectively. Onuachu has not been called up to the Super Eagles squad for their dead rubber Africa Cup Of Nations qualifier against Sao Tome and Principe at the Godswill Akpabio International Stadium in Uyo on Sunday.