Burnley Ready To Break Transfer Record For A Nigerian Defender To Sign Chelsea Star

Published: July 07, 2019

Chelsea starlet Fikayo Tomori could become the most expensive Nigerian defender in history if transfer speculations are anything to go by.

The Daily Star is reporting that Burnley are hoping to clinch a £15m deal for Tomori, who is also eligible to represent the senior national teams of Canada and England.

Should Chelsea agree to do business with The Clarets, Tomori will become the costliest defender eligible to represent Nigeria, surpassing the 12 million euros Inter Milan paid Auxerre for Taribo West in June 1997.

Tomori was loaned out to Derby County for the entirety of last season and was named the club's Player of the Year and spent the previous season at Hull City.

With Chelsea slapped with a two-window transfer ban, it is thought that the central defender is in the plans of new Blues boss Frank Lampard as he was included in the pre-season squad for games against Bohemians and St Patrick's Athletic FC this week.

Although Manuel Akanji is a Switzerland international and no longer eligible for the Super Eagles, he is the most expensive defender of Nigerian descent in history, costing Borussia Dortmund €21.5 million when he was acquired from FC Basel in 2018.

Ifeanyi Emmanuel

Photo Credit : chelseafc.com