Relegation-threatened Spanish La Liga outfit Las Palmas on Wednesday confirmed the signing of Super Eagles midfielder Oghenekaro Etebo from Portuguese side Feirense on loan until the end of the season.
The development came as out-of-favour Nigeria attacker Isaac Success returned to Spain to spend the rest of the season with Malaga, who are rooted to the bottom of La Liga table, on loan. Success, who joined Watford from Spanish side Granada for a reported fee of £12.5m in July 2016, only made one appearance for the Hornets this season, a Carabao Cup defeat to Bristol City in August.
Portuguese powerhouse Porto reportedly won the race to sign Etebo from Feirense in December ahead of the January transfer window but no deal was struck allegedly because the Dragons failed to pay Fogaceiros’ €10m asking price for the former Warri Wolves player.
Wilfred Ndidi’s former Belgian side Genk were heavily linked with a move for the box-to-box midfielder, who also attracted interest from Turkish giants Fenerbahce and Leicester City, but reports claimed they also baulked at Feirense’s asking price for the player, who became one of the hottest properties in Europe after helping Nigeria win bronze at the Rio 2016 Olympic Games.
Etebo expressed his delight at his arrival at the 32,400-capacity Estadio Gran Canaria from the 5,401-capacity Estadio Marcolino de Castro after passing his medical on Tuesday.
The player, who trained with his new teammates after his unveiling, declared his readiness for Las Palmas’ La Liga fixture against Success’ new team Malaga on Monday.
“The interest of UD Las Palmas was key so everything is easier, in attack I can play any position on the field,” Canarias 7 quoted him as saying.
“Etebo arrives on loan from Club Desportivo Feirense of the First Division of Portugal,” La Palmas, who are 19th in the 20-team La Liga table, said on their official website.
“UD Las Palmas reserves the option to purchase the player. He can act as an offensive or extreme midfielder. At 22, he has already been an absolute international with Nigeria.”
