Golden Eaglets midfielder, who was scouted by Barcelona and Villarreal, lands in France for Lille trials

Alllnigeriasoccer.com has been told that Nigeria U17 international Usman Ajibola has landed in France ahead of the start of trials with French Ligue 1 club Lille. 

A box-to-box midfielder, Ajibola caught the eye of scouts representing European clubs during the 2023 Africa U17 Cup of Nations in Algeria, where he started every single game played by the Golden Eaglets before they exited the tournament at the quarterfinal stage.

Lille have moved ahead of their European rivals in the race for the services of Ajibola by inviting him for a two-week trial, after which a decision will be made on whether or not to offer him a contract when he attains the age of majority. 

Ajibola was also scouted by Spanish giants Barcelona, Villarreal, OGC Nice and FC Nordsjælland during the tournament in Algeria.

The European talent spotters considered him as one of the best players in the Golden Eaglets squad. 

Barcelona actually came to run the rule over the Golden Eaglets number 10, Ifeoluwa Adewale Olowoporoku, but he was starved of game time during the U17 AFCON, so they turned their focus to Ajibola. 

The Tripple 44 Football Academy player is also on the radar of unnamed Belgian, Danish and Swedish clubs, but he's hoping to start his career in Europe at Lille. 

Ajibola has been described as a 'technical box-to-box midfielder with clean touches and he wins a lot of balls without getting booked'. 

Ifeanyi Emmanuel 

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