Top five transfers of JPL season: Romano names Gift Orban as the best, Boniface third

Italian transfer market expert Fabrizio Romano has picked his top five transfers of the Jupiler Pro League season, with two Nigerian strikers making the cut. 
 

 In first place is Gift Orban, who swapped Stabæk for KAA Gent just before the close of the January transfer window, and in third position is Victor Boniface of Royale Union Saint Gilloise.

The two players, who are under the age of 23, directly participated in an impressive 51 goals between them for their Belgian topflight clubs in all competitions over the course of the 2022-2023. 

Nigeria manager Jose Peseiro received glowing reports about the pair and went to check out the duo in Belgium before submitting his expanded squad for the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations qualifying match against Sierra Leone. 

Orban set a new record for the fastest-ever UEFA club competition hat-trick in three minutes and 25 seconds during Gent's UEFA Europa Conference League round of 16 second leg against İstanbul Başakşehir. 

Boniface was the joint top scorer in last season's Europa League with six goals and was selected in the Team of the Season by UEFA 's technical study group. 

Speaking on Here We Scout, Romano said: "The best one has to be Gift Orban. A winter transfer sensation. What a signing, 20 goals since he joined in January. So really impressive, including two assists. 

"Incredible deal for just three million euros, transfer from Stabæk".

And on Boniface, he stated: " Very interesting striker, Victor Boniface.  Royale Union Saint Gilloise paid just two million euros fee to Bodo/Glimt and found a top striker. He did excellent things with 14 goals in all competitions and a fantastic, fantastic impact. "

Completing the top five are Hugo Cuypers (KAA Gent), Toby Alderweireld (Royal Antwerp) and Ferran Jutglà (Club Brugge). 

Ifeanyi Emmanuel 

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