Cercle Brugge have completed the signing of Nigerian winger Tunde Akinsola. The 23-year-old attacker joins from Portuguese club AVS Futebol on a four-year deal with an option for a further season, as reported by Voetbalkrant.com this week.
The Jupiler Pro League club paid a transfer fee of 1.5 million euros for the player. Cercle Brugge beat English side Blackburn Rovers to his signature in the process. "Cercle wint strijd met Blackburn," the club confirmed. Akinsola is currently undergoing his medical examination with Cercle Brugge. The transfer will be finalized once those tests are successfully completed.
The arrival of the Nigerian is a clear attempt to add more firepower to a squad sitting 13th in the Jupiler Pro League after four matchdays. Cercle Brugge have two points from four games, with a record of zero wins, two draws, and two losses. Their recent form is LLDD. The team has scored five goals but conceded seven, resulting in a negative goal difference of -2. They currently trail league leaders Charleroi by ten points.
What does Akinsola bring to the squad?
Tunde Akinsola brings experience from the Nigerian league with Remo Stars and from the Portuguese second division with AVS Futebol. His arrival is meant to provide immediate competition and speed on the wings. Coach Miron Muslic can introduce more variety to the attacking play with his addition, which is sorely needed given the current results. The player joins a squad you can view on our squad page.
The Nigerian is a right-footed winger known for his dribbling ability and crossing. His physical stature and pace should help him adapt quickly to Belgian football. His signing comes at a key moment, just before the home match against KAA Gent on September 6th. That opponent currently sits fourth in the standings.
How did the transfer negotiations unfold?
Cercle Brugge outmaneuvered English club Blackburn Rovers in the race for Akinsola. The English side made a concrete offer, but the Belgian club came with a better proposal for both the player and his club. The agreement with AVS Futebol includes a fixed transfer fee of 1.5 million euros. The Portuguese club will retain 10% of any future resale fee.
This indicates that AVS Futebol has confidence in the player's further development and potential increase in value. For Cercle Brugge, it is an investment in a young player with room to grow. The four-year contract with an option for a fifth season provides the club with security and development time.
What is the immediate context for his arrival?
Akinsola's arrival coincides with a difficult start to the season for Cercle Brugge. The team is searching for more consistency and goals. The statistics on our stats page show there is room for improvement in the attacking phase. The next test is immediately a tough one: a home match against KAA Gent.
That game on September 6th is vital to give the season a positive turn. A victory against a top side like Gent could provide a massive confidence boost. The full schedule up to the next international break can be found on our fixtures page. Akinsola has signed his four-year contract and AVS Futebol retains 10% of a future transfer fee.
