Nigerian international Chuba Akpom has completed a loan transfer to Lille from Dutch giants Ajax, securing a move that will keep him at the French club until the end of the season.
As part of the agreement, Lille retains the option to purchase Akpom at the end of the season, should they be satisfied with his performance. With the anticipated departure of Jonathan David, it is likely that Lille will exercise this option to secure Akpom’s services on a permanent basis.
Born in London, Chuba Akpom’s footballing journey began at the age of 6 when he joined the esteemed Arsenal Academy. He progressed through the ranks, impressing in the Youth League before signing his first professional contract and making his debut for Arsenal’s first team at just 17 years old.
Akpom’s subsequent career path included loan stints at various clubs, including Brentford, Coventry, Nottingham Forest, Hull City, and Brighton, prior to his permanent transfer to PAOK Thessaloniki. During his time in the Greek championship, Akpom emerged as a revelation, scoring 18 goals over two seasons.
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In 2020, Akpom made the move to Middlesbrough, where he initially faced challenges before experiencing the most prolific season of his career in 2022-2023, scoring 29 goals in 42 games. His outstanding performances earned him the titles of best player and top scorer in the Championship.
Akpom’s success at Middlesbrough opened doors to top-tier clubs, and he was subsequently recruited by Ajax Amsterdam in 2023. During his first season with the Dutch giants, he scored 15 goals, followed by 8 goals this season, including four in the Europa League.
Despite his goal-scoring prowess, Akpom’s inconsistent playing time at Ajax necessitated a move to Lille, where he will seek to establish himself as a regular starter and contribute to the team’s success in the Ligue 1 and the Champions League.
Lille President, Oliver Letang, expressed his delight at the arrival of Chuba Akpom: “It is with great pleasure that we announce the arrival of Chuba. We have been following him for a very long time, he has played in big clubs and he has experience in European competitions. We had already wanted to bring him in the past but it had not been possible,” he revealed.
“Chuba is a striker capable of playing in different positions, in several positions on the front of the attack. He will bring complementary qualities to the current group so that we are even stronger. His human qualities will allow him to integrate very quickly into our squad. Chuba really pushed to join us and we are very happy that he is now part of the Dogues family. Welcome Chuba,” the president added.
Reacting to his move to Lille, Chuba Akpom also shared his excitement, revealing that he can’t wait to play for the French side: “I am very happy to be here. LOSC is a great club, one of the best in France, which plays beautiful football, which achieves great things in Europe and in the championship. I was able to see that there was a great state of mind in the group. I am impatient to be able to start my adventure here. I would like to thank the President and everyone at the club for allowing me to sign here.”
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