By Fresh Facts Sports Desk
In a move that signals a fresh chapter in his well-traveled football journey, Nigerian international Kenneth Omeruo has joined Romanian giants CFR Cluj, becoming the club’s seventh signing of the summer transfer window.
The 31-year-old centre-back arrives in Cluj as a free agent, following the mutual termination of his contract with Turkish Super Lig outfit Kasimpasa on June 28, 2025. His new deal with CFR Cluj officially comes into effect on July 1, according to Romanian sports outlet Gazeta Sporturilor (Gsp).
The transfer was confirmed by Omeruo’s representative, Anamaria Prodan, who shared a photo of herself alongside the defender and CFR Cluj president Cristi Balaj — moments before the club made the official announcement.
With this move, Omeruo becomes the sixth Nigerian to don the colours of CFR Cluj, following in the footsteps of Ibe Ogbonna, Nwankwo Obiora, Derrick Ogbu, Phillip Otele, and Peter Michael. His arrival adds significant experience and defensive stability to the squad led by legendary Romanian manager Dan Petrescu.
Standing tall at 1.85 meters, Omeruo will bring both leadership and depth to Cluj’s central defense, where he will vie for a starting role against Matei Ilie, Leo Bolgdao, Daniel Dumbrăvanu, and Sheriff Sinyan.
A mainstay of Nigeria’s national team since 2013, Omeruo was instrumental in the Super Eagles’ triumphant 2013 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) campaign. He further etched his name into Nigerian football history by helping the team clinch a bronze medal at AFCON 2019 — a tournament in which he scored his first and only international goal against Guinea.
Despite his extensive international resume, which includes 69 caps for Nigeria, Omeruo has not yet featured under newly appointed Super Eagles head coach, Eric Chelle, who has overlooked him in his first five matches in charge.
Omeruo’s professional journey began in Europe with the youth team of Belgian side Standard Liège. His talent soon caught the eye of English Premier League side Chelsea, who signed him in 2012. However, he never made a senior appearance for the Blues, instead embarking on a series of loan spells that took him to the Netherlands (ADO Den Haag), England (Middlesbrough), and Turkey (Kasimpasa and Alanyaspor).
In 2019, Spanish club Leganés secured Omeruo’s services on a permanent deal after a successful loan stint, with the Nigerian featuring in 51 La Liga matches. He later returned to Turkey in 2023 for a reported €1 million move back to Kasimpasa.
According to Transfermarkt, his current market value stands at €1.2 million, although it once peaked at €5 million in early 2019 — a testament to the high regard in which he was once held.
Now based in Cluj-Napoca, Omeruo will be aiming to reignite his club career and put himself back in contention for national team selection. For a player who has weathered the highs and lows of professional football, this move to Romania could prove to be a timely renaissance.
Fresh Facts Magazine will continue to track Kenneth Omeruo’s progress in Romania as he embarks on this new chapter with hopes of both club success and a national team comeback.
