(Photo) Stoke City Beat Tottenham To Signature Of Nigerian Defender Dubbed The 'Next Van Dijk'

Published: January 05, 2020

Allnigeriasoccer.com can exclusively report that Championship outfit Stoke City have pulled off a huge transfer coup after agreeing terms with Nigeria U17 invitee, Iffy Udanoh.

Several Premier League clubs not limited to Tottenham Hotspur and Arsenal had explored the possibility of signing the 6-feet-4-inches tall central defender, who has been likened to Liverpool star Virgil van Dijk.

Udanoh was one of the teenagers earmarked to sign a scholarship deal with Aston Villa but the stumbling block is that other clubs, including Lyon in France, were battling for his services.

After leaving Aston Villa, he went to Tottenham Hotspur to undergo trials and did really well doing his time with the North London club.

Stoke City snatched Udanoh from under the noses of Spurs, offering him a contract after just one trial game.

Udanoh and his minders believe the Potters are the best club for him in terms of pathway to first-team football that he might not get elsewhere.

His scholarship deal with Stoke City will come into effect on July 1, 2020.

Ifeanyi Emmanuel