Nigeria defender William Troost-Ekong is expected to complete a switch from Turkish side Bursaspor to Italian Serie A side, Udinese on Thursday.
24-year old Ekong who was born in Haarlem, Netherlands has been a regular figure in Nigeria’s defensive line since 2016 and he is expected to arrive in Udine after the Italian side agreed a fee with Bursaspor.
After it emerged in the afternoon that Udinese had agreed terms with Troost-Ekong, his Turkish club, Bursaspor curiously tweeted a little later with the caption “Thank you William Troost-Ekong” which was later deleted.
Troost-Ekong featured in twenty-seven league matches for Bursaspor last season, scoring two goals. The defender who played every minute of Nigeria’s World Cup participation in Russia scored Bursaspor’s only goal in their league opener against Fernerbahçe on Saturday, his side losing 1-2.
Known for his good physical fitness, consistency and no-nonsense defending, Troost-Ekong will become the second Nigerian defender to join a Serie A club in 48 hours after Ola Aina joined Torino on Tuesday. He will be hoping to go straight into manager Julio Velazquez’s squad ahead of their league opener at Parma on Sunday.
Troost-Ekong will become the first Nigerian to put on the white and black stripes of Udinese since Christian Obodo who played at the Stadio Friuli between 2005 and 2012.
