FC Porto, one of Portugal’s top football clubs, has reached an agreement with Benfica to acquire Nigerian defender Bruno Onyemaechi, according to reports from reputable Portuguese publication CM Jornal. The transfer fee has already been partially paid to Onyemaechi’s current club, Boavista. The talented full-back is set to join FC Porto for the next five seasons.
However, the official announcement of the transfer will be delayed until the situations concerning current wing-backs Zaidu Sanusi and Brazil’s Wendell are resolved. At least one of them must depart before Onyemaechi’s arrival can be made official.
While Boavista’s president claims that no offer has been received for the 24-year-old Nigerian, reports suggest that Porto has made a satisfactory bid that meets the approval of coach Sérgio Conceição. This ensures the player’s services.
Interestingly, the payment made by Porto to Boavista for Onyemaechi could potentially offset a previous debt owed by Boavista to Porto. Last summer, Nigerian defender Chidozie Awaziem was loaned to Boavista, and the club was obligated to pay Porto five million. However, insiders indicate that the payment has never been made. Securing Onyemaechi at a minimal or even zero cost to Porto would resolve this long-standing debt.
However, Boavista is dissatisfied with this arrangement and demands a higher amount due to their urgent need for liquidity. As a result, the announcement of the deal is currently being held back by these two key obstacles – resolving the Zaidu/Wendell situation and reaching an agreement on the transfer value. These factors have temporarily halted the progression of the transfer process.
Despite interest from clubs in Spain and France, Onyemaechi’s primary objective is to continue playing in Portugal. He had an impressive campaign with Boavista last season, featuring in 33 matches and scoring two goals.
Overall, the acquisition of Bruno Onyemaechi by FC Porto is an exciting development for both the club and the player. It remains to be seen how the remaining obstacles will be overcome, but fans are eagerly awaiting the official announcement of this promising transfer.
