Sparta Rotterdam confirmed on their official website on Monday (November 8, 2021) evening that Nigeria number one goalie, Maduka Okoye has agreed on a move to the English Premier League at the end of the 2021/2022 season.
The 21-year-old shot-stopper who was contracted to Sparta Rotterdam till 2025 will not serve out the contract at the Kasteel.
Sparta Rotterdam Technical Director, Henk Van Stee confirmed that Maduka Okoye development as a goalkeeper has been very great hence they are willing to allow him to join a top competition that is good for his career.
“We took over Maduka Okoye transfer-free from Fortuna Dusseldorf in the summer of 2020 and signed until 2025, but both parties knew that an early departure would be very real.”
“Sparta would prefer to let Maduka go alone to top competition. If Premier League clubs show interest, it will be very difficult for the club, player and agent to postpone a transfer.
"Then it is important for us to get the best possible conditions for Sparta and we believe that we have succeeded,” Henk told the club official website.
The intrigues
The club knew they may lose Okoye to the bigger leagues at the end of the season, so they quickly get the Watford deal over the line under the best possible condition for the club, the player and Watford FC.
Part of the conditions for a transfer, in particular, was Maduka Okoye would finish the season at Castle, helping the club to retain their Eredivisie status.
This will afford him to have more game time before the Africa Cup Of Nations and gain more international exposure, which will help him be in good shape for the number one shirt competition next season at Watford FC before proceeding to the 2022 World Cup in Qatar.
“Agreement has been reached with Watford and that is important for our selection and sporting objective to remain in the Eredivisie. This is also important for Maduka because then he can gain even more experience at the highest level in the Netherlands and will be the first keeper of Nigeria to go to the Africa Cup in January," said Van Stee.
The arrangement Okoye himself describe as 'perfect' both at the sporting level and for financial reasons though the parties involved agreed that the financial details of the deal won't be pronounced for now.
" Of course I am very proud that I can play in the Premier League, but also that I can play at Het Kasteel for our fans until the end of the season. Of you,rse, I wanted this, but I also want to close it well with Sparta and that is why this is the best choice.” Okoye the club website.
Henk concluded on the non-disclosure of the transfer fees. “The only thing I can say about it is that it is an amount that cannot be refused for Sparta for an outgoing transfer. In any case, Maduka must finish the season on a rental basis at Sparta.”
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