Sports

Watford Unveils Super Eagles Winger Kalu, Signs Deal Until 2025

Struggling English Premiership League side, Watford Football Club on Wednesday unveiled Super Eagles winger Samuel Kalu on a four year deal.

The former Bordeaux of France player who arrived England last week for his medical becomes Watford’s fourth signing of the current transfer window.

“Watford FC is delighted to announce the signing of Nigerian international winger Samuel Kalu on a deal until June 2025 from French club FC Girondins de Bordeaux.

“The fourth new signing of the January window, Kalu joins full-back Hassane Kamara, central defender Samir and midfielder Edo Kayembe at Vicarage Road,” the club said in a statement.

The 24-year-old signs for the Hornets following three-and-a-half successful years in France’s top tier, where he scored nine goals.

“Capable of playing on either flank, Kalu is a versatile option in a competitive squad, typically operating on the right wing.

“The quick-footed attacker first played for Slovakian side AS Trenčín after moving to Europe from his native Nigeria, and earned a switch to Belgian giants KAA Gent in 2017 following impressive performances. He then joined Bordeaux in August 2018, where he has since made 86 appearances for Les Girondins,” the club continued.

Kalu also has plenty of experience at European and international level, having played Europa League and Champions League qualifying football at his three previous clubs.

Currently with 17 caps for Nigeria, the Eagles star debuted for Nigeria in September 2018 and scored on his last competive start against Benin Republic.

Watford is turning out to becoming a haven for Nigerian players with William Troost Ekong, Oghenekaro Etebo (on from Stoke City), Maduka Okoye (to join in the summer from Feyenoord) all on the books of the team.

Kalu will wear the number 28 at Watford.

Izuchukwu Okosi

Izuchukwu Okosi is a Nigerian sports and entertainment journalist with two decades of experience in the media industry having begun his media journey in 2002 as an intern at Mundial Sports International (MSI) and Africa Independent Television (AIT), owners of Daar Communications Plc. In October 2004, Okosi joined Complete Communications Limited, publishers of Complete Sports newspaper and Complete Football magazine as a reporter and later script writer for the Complete Sports studio. He worked there for 13 years until October 2017. Okosi also worked various times as Correspondent, Content creator and Editor at Sports Market International Magazine, Opera News, All Nigeria Soccer Media and Iconic Media Watch. He also undertook freelance writing gigs for some local and international organizations. Okosi is a member of the Actors Guild of Nigeria (AGN), Association of Movie Producers (AMP), Association of Voiceover Artistes of Nigeria (AVOA), Sports Writers Association of Nigeria (SWAN) and Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ). He has been part of cast in some Nollywood movies and radio dramas including Blood Money 2, Scores To Settle, Dead End 2, Another Campus Tale and Battle Line. Aside mainstream media and the entertainment industry, he has interests in scouting/unearthing of talents in the sports and creative sectors, exports business and property development.