Gift Orban: The Rising Nigerian Star at Gent Catching the Eye of Lille
Gift Orban has been making waves in the Belgian Jupiler League since his transfer to Gent from Norwegian second-division club Stabaek in January. The 21-year-old Nigerian striker has been in superb form, netting 20 goals and providing two assists in just 20 games for the Buffaloes. Orban’s remarkable goalscoring ability has helped Gent reach the Europa Conference League finals and secure qualification with two games to spare.
Orban’s performances have not gone unnoticed, with several top European clubs reportedly interested in signing him. Barcelona, Leeds United, and Manchester United are among the clubs linked with the Nigerian goal poacher. However, according to transfer guru Fabrizio Romano, Lille are the only club to have shown concrete interest in signing Orban.
Lille, the French Ligue 1 club, have reportedly made contact with Gent to inquire about the free-scoring striker. The club is looking to invest in Orban as they may sell their star man Jonathan David this summer if they receive a good offer. Lille signed David from Gent for €27million in 2020, and the club’s relationship with Gent could make striking another deal for Orban seamless.
Orban’s transfer value is estimated to be around €10million, and Lille could fund the move by selling David for over €60million. If the deal goes through, Orban could become the latest Nigerian player to make his mark in the French top-flight.
Orban’s goalscoring prowess has raised a lot of eyebrows and caught the attention of top European clubs. The young Nigerian striker’s ability to find the back of the net with ease makes him a valuable asset for any team. With Lille’s reported interest, Orban’s future could lie in the French Ligue 1, where he would hope to build on his impressive performances and continue his rise to stardom.
