Nigerian striker Gift Orban will not be in action later tonight when Hoffenheim welcomes Premier League side Tottenham Hotspur to the PreZero Arena, as he is ineligible to represent his new team in the competition.
The competition is still in the group phase, and Orban has already represented his former side, Lyon, making him ineligible to play for another club in this stage.
However, he can be registered for the knockout phase of the competition should Hoffenheim qualify, despite having played for Lyon earlier in the season. Hoffenheim currently sits outside the playoff positions and needs a win over Spurs to significantly improve their chances of advancing.
According to UEFA rules, players signed during the January transfer window can be registered to play in the knockout stages. As stated by UEFA, “The UEFA Champions League, UEFA Europa League, and UEFA Europa Conference League knockout hopefuls are allowed to register a maximum of three new eligible players during the winter.
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“Since 2018/19, it no longer matters whether those players have already played in the competition for another club, even for another club still in the competition.”
Orban, a one-time Tottenham target, joined Hoffenheim earlier this month from Lyon for a deal worth €13m. He hopes to reignite his career and showcase his talent on a bigger stage after a disappointing spell with the French club.
Before joining Hoffenheim, Gift Orban had been linked with a move to Trabzonspor, according to several sources.
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