Portugal’s Primeira Liga powerhouse, FC Porto, have finalised an agreement with Benfica to acquire talented Nigerian defender Bruno Onyemaechi, Soccernet.ng reports.
The news comes from reputable Portuguese publication CM Jornal, which reports that Porto have already paid a portion of the transfer fee to Boavista, Onyemaechi’s current club.
Onyemaechi, who impressed with his versatility and skill as a full-back at Boavista, 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 Zaidu Sanusi and Brazil’s Wendell, Porto’s current wing-backs, are resolved.
As per the terms, at least one of them must depart before Onyemaechi’s arrival is made official.
While Boavista’s president, Vítor Murta, claims that no offer has been received for the 24-year-old Nigerian, reports suggest that Porto have already made a satisfactory bid, one that meets the approval of coach Sérgio Conceição, ensuring the player’s services.
Interestingly, the payment made by Porto to Boavista for Onyemaechi might be offset against a previous debt owed by Boavista to Porto.
Last summer, after Chidozie Awaziem was loaned to the Leopards, the Nigerian defender remained at Besa permanently.
Boavista is obligated to pay FC Porto five million, corresponding to the transfer of the center-back, but insiders indicate that the payment has never been made.
In effect, securing Onyemaechi at a minimal or even zero cost to Porto would resolve this two-year-old debt from a blue-and-white perspective.
However, Boavista, in urgent need of liquidity, is dissatisfied with this arrangement and demands a higher amount.
Consequently, the announcement of the deal is currently held back by 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. The Nigerian defender enjoyed an impressive campaign with Boavista last season, featuring in 33 matches and scoring two goals.
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