Official: FC Cincinnati exercise option on highest-paid Nigerian in MLS, make roster decisions on 3 others

With a statement on their official website, FC Cincinnati announced on Monday the club’s offseason roster decisions following the conclusion of the 2024 season.

Of the twenty-three players still under contract for the 2025 season, two are Nigerian-born players, including 2015 Africa U20 Cup of Nations-winning midfielder Obinna Nwobodo and Super Eagles central defender Chidozie Awaziem.

Nwobodo is the highest-paid Nigerian player in Major League Soccer, earning a guaranteed compensation of $1,444,400.00 (approximately N2.4 billion in Nigerian currency).

Since debuting in the American top-flight, the former Nigeria U20 international has played in 84 games and registered eight goal involvements (2 goals, 6 assists), while Porto-reared defender Awaziem made seven appearances in the regular season following his summer transfer from Boavista. 

FC Cincinnati declined contract options on two American-born central defenders of Nigerian descent, London Aghedo and Joey Akpunonu.

FC Cincinnati chose not to activate Aghedo's 2025 and 2026 season options.

Akpunonu, FC Cincinnati's first-round selection in MLS SuperDraft 2023, spent the first half of the 2024 season on loan at USL Championship side Hartford Athletic, and was loaned out to MLS NEXT Pro side Huntsville City FC for the remainder of the MLSNP season.

The 22-year-old Akpunonu made three first team appearances for FC Cincinnati, while Aghedo, 24, logged four appearances including a debut against Cavalier FC in the Concacaf Champions Cup back in February.

Ifeanyi Emmanuel 

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