Former home-based Eagles’ striker, Gabriel Okechukwu has dumped Wydad Athletic Club (WAC) of Morocco in preference for a loan move to Hokkaido Consadole Sapporo of Japan, where he has signed a four-year contract worth around $2m a year, megasportsarena.com reports.
Sapporo have already confirmed that the former Akwa United of Uyo hitman will join their ranks this weekend, ahead of the new season which begins early February, with great expectations already on the 25-year-old, who began his career at Water FC.
He moved to Europe in 2016, with a deal at Karpaty Lviv of Ukraine, but returned to Nigeria less than 12 months after, then got another breakthrough with his stunning performances for the Eagles’ B-squad at the 2018 Championship of African Nations (CHAN) in Morocco, where he helped Nigeria to a second-place finish.
Soon after, the lanky forward joined Wydad, but has now left the club following the expiration of his contract, leaving him to link forces with Sapporo, who finished 10th in the J. League last term and hope Okechukwu’s arrival will further boost their chances in the league this season.
The enterprising forward, who also played on loan at SC Chabab of Morocco before returning to Casablanca-based Wydad to run down his contract, will now try to help his new club challenge for the J1 League title.
He netted twice as the Super Eagles B reached the final of CHAN 2018, but they lost to the hosts in the final, before which he also scored the decisive spot kick that helped Akwa United defeat Niger Tornadoes of Minna to claim the 2017 AITEO Cup in Lagos.
After singing the dotted lines at his new base, the former Olympic Eagles’ forward enthused that his move to Japan is a step forward in his career, adding that he is eager to start playing well and regularly for the J1 side.
Okechukwu stressed: “For me, it’s a big privilege to come play in Japan where the style of football is very different from that of Morocco.
“One thing is sure, I will do my best to put smiles on the faces of the fans and the club. I do not take this opportunity for granted, as I’m here to make my mark and keep the Nigerian flag always flying.”
