Official: Belgian champions Antwerp sign 16yo Lagos-born center forward 

Through a statement on their official website, Belgian Pro League champions Royal Antwerp have announced that they have strengthened their offensive ranks with the acquisition of Lagos-born center forward George Ilenikhena. 

The Nigerian wonderkid, who also has a French passport, has put pen to paper on a four-year contract that will keep him at Antwerp until the end of the 2026-2027 season, provided both parties honor the agreement.

Antwerp have pulled off a massive transfer coup by luring him to the Reds as several top-flight clubs in France and Germany attempted to recruit him without success. 

The 16-year-old has joined Antwerp from French Ligue 2 club Amiens SC, for whom he made seventeen appearances over the course of the 2022-2023 season and scored two goals. 

He netted six goals in ten matches for Amiens reserve team in the National 3 - Hauts-de-France last term. 

Commenting on the signing of Ilenikhena, Marc Overmars, Royal Antwerp's Director of Football Affairs said: "George is known as a great talent. We have been following him for a long time and are therefore pleased that he has chosen RAFC.

"It says something that he wants to continue his career in Belgium, because there was also a lot of interest from foreign clubs.

"With us he gets the time and space to develop further in the shadow of Vincent Janssen.”

Ilenikhena links up with 2022 Super Eagles invitee Alhassan Yusuf at Royal Antwerp. 

Ifeanyi Emmanuel 

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