Nigerian international defender William Troost-Ekong has sealed a transfer to Serie A club Udinese from Bursaspor for an undisclosed fee, the Italian club confirmed on Friday.
Speculation heightened around Troost-Ekong on Thursday regarding an imminent departure from the Turkish Super Liga side following the player’s farewell message to the club on his Twitter handle, only days after scoring in the season opener against Fenerbahce.
The 24-year-old, who featured in all three group-stage games for Nigeria at the 2018 FIFA World Cup, becomes the third Super Eagle to sign for Udinese, after the duo of Christan Obodo and Odion Igahlo.
He links up with former on-loan Bursaspor teammate, Ghana international midfielder Emmanuel Agyemang-Badu at the Stadio Friuli, and joins a growing band of African internationals to sign for Udinese.
Troost-Ekong was born in the Netherlands to a Nigerian father, and Dutch mother Eleanore Troost. He represented the Netherlands at under-19 and under-20 youth levels.
He made his senior international debut for Nigeria on 13 June 2015, playing 90 minutes in an AFCON qualifier against Chad.
He made 3 starts for the senior team in 2016 before being selected by Nigeria’s under-23 team in their 35-man provisional squad for the Rio 2016 Summer Olympics.
In May 2018 he was named in Nigeria’s preliminary 30 man squad for the 2018 FIFA World Cup in Russia