Tag: Osayi-Samuel

Birmingham City head coach, Chris Davies has thumbed up Bright Osayi-Samuel’s performance at the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations.      

 Osayi-Samuel made six appearances for Nigeria in Morocco. The right-back was particularly outstanding in Nigeria’s quarter-final victory over the Desert Foxes of Algeria, and last four defeat to hosts Morocco.           

The defender returned to England early this week after helping Nigeria finish third in the competition. Davies is delighted to have Osayi-Samuel back in the team.

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“He’s back, which is great news, and congratulations to him for his performances and Nigeria’s in the tournament,” Davies told reporters.                       

The former Fenerbahce star is in contention to face Stoke City on Saturday.

Super Eagles defender Bright Osayi-Samuel has shed light on the events behind his collapsed move to Besiktas before finalizing his transfer to Birmingham City.

The 27-year-old right-back, who recently signed for Birmingham City after four years at Fenerbahce, was heavily linked with a summer switch to Besiktas.

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The deal reportedly fell apart due to excessive financial demands allegedly made by Osayi-Samuel’s father. But the former QPR man has now dismissed those reports as misleading.

Championship side Birmingham City have pulled off a major transfer coup with the signing of Nigeria international Bright Osayi-Samuel, who boasts 23 caps for the Super Eagles.

Through the club’s official website, the Blues confirmed the capture of Osayi-Samuel on Friday morning.

Osayi-Samuel had been linked with potential moves to Besiktas, Wolverhampton Wanderers, and Crystal Palace, but it is Birmingham City who have won the race for his signature.

Turkish giants Besiktas were widely seen as favourites to sign the versatile defender, but the deal fell through at the last minute due to wage demands.

The Blackpool academy graduate has signed a three-year deal with Birmingham City, until the end of the 2027-2028 season.

Speaking after the transfer was sealed, Osayi-Samuel explained why he chose to continue his career at Birmingham City.

Read Also: Osayi-Samuel backs Super Eagles’ World Cup qualification

“I think it’s the project. I spoke to the owner, I spoke to the manager, and it’s a project with ambitions about what they want to do,” Osayi-Samuel stated.

“Of course, they did well last season getting promoted, and the ambition is not just to compete, but to get straight to the Premier League.

“Those are my ambitions, too. I want to play in the Premier League and show everyone what I can do, and I think Birmingham City are giving me a platform to showcase that, so I think those are the main reasons I decided to come here.”

Osayi-Samuel has returned to English football four and a half years after leaving Queens Park Rangers for Fenerbahce.

English Football League Championship side, Birmingham City , are  now weighing up the  possibility of signing Nigeria International defender Bright Osayi Samuel after his switch from Fenebache  to Besiktas in the Turkish  Duper Lig reportedly collapsed at the weekend.

 Osayi-Samuel, whose contract with Fenerbahçe has expired, was about to transfer to Beşiktaş but his transfer was cancelled at the last minute on Saturday  on the other  of the club’s  President Serdal Adalı citing inconclusive negotiation with the father of the 27-year-old  defender.

Both parties had initially reached a  three-year contract  agreement  and Osayi- Samuel was being expected in Istanbul  to  append his signature  to the deal but further  request  by the player’s team that the contract should be for  four years was flatly rejected.

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“We have decided to stop the transfer due to the meaningless requests of Osayi-Samuel’s father that changed at the last minute,” President Adalı said in a terse  statement as per  the Anadolu Agency (AA).“We are waiting for news from the other side. If he complies with the conditions we have previously discussed, he will come, otherwise our alternatives are ready.”

Osayi-Samuel played 39 games for Fenerbahçe last season. The Nigerian right-back made 2 assists in these competitions. The current market value of the 27-year-old player, who holds a contract, is 6 million 500 thousand euros .

Bright Osayi Samuel, who grew up in the Blackpool youth academy, later played for QPR and Fenerbahçe. Bright Osayi Samuel played in 23 matches for the Super Eagles.

In a related development, Birmingham City, who were promoted to the Championship as champions of England League One (3^rd  League) have swung into action and  have reportedly started negotiations to add the Nigerian right-back to their squad according to the news from the British outfit,  Football Insider.

Super Eagles and Fenerbahce defender Bright Osayi-Samuel has stated that he would address his future at the end of the Turkish Super Lig.

Osayi-Samuel’s current contract expires at the end of the season and the versatile defender has been the subject of transfer rumours.

However, following Fenerbahce’s recent clash against Sivasspor, Osayi-Samuel emphasized that his current focus remains solely on the title race and that he would address his future when the season ends.

Read Also: Osayi-Samuel to miss Fenerbahce’s next Europa League tie

“It’s actually hard to comment on this situation. Many people act like they know what’s going on. I play for Fenerbahce and I’m very happy here,” he said.

“People say all sorts of things — that a contract was signed and I refused it — but that’s not true. I have a great relationship with the president. Right now, my only focus is on winning the championship. After the season, we’ll sit down and talk.”

Osayi-Samuel joined Fenerbahce from English side Queens Park Rangers in 2021.

Turkish giants Fenerbahce are to put forward a new and improved offer to Super Eagles defender Bright Osayi-Samuel

According to leading Turkish publication Milliyet, Osayi-Samuel has demanded for an improvement on the previous offers by Fenerbache.

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It was reported that the previous offers were considered low by the Player, who is now more positive of prolonging his stay in Istanbul.

This summer his contract with Fenerbache will run out and so he could leave on the free unless he has agreed a new deal.

Bright Osayi-Samuel will miss the first leg of Fenerbahçe’s UEFA Europa League round of 16 clash after picking up his seventh yellow card of the campaign during his side’s 2-2 draw against Anderlecht in the second leg of their playoff tie on Thursday.

The Super Eagles defender, who was on the pitch for 67 minutes before being substituted for Mert Müldür, received a yellow card for a foul in the 53rd minute. With the game growing increasingly intense and tackles flying in, manager José Mourinho opted to take him off to prevent the risk of a red card.

Osayi-Samuel also found himself in the middle of unwanted statistics as he is the player with the most yellow cards in the group stage and playoffs round (7).

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Despite the draw, Fenerbahçe secured a spot in the round of 16 with a 5-3 aggregate victory, having won the first leg 3-0 in Istanbul. In addition to Osayi-Samuel, Brazilian midfielder Fred will also be unavailable for the next match after accumulating his fifth caution of the competition.

Meanwhile, Super Eagles coach Eric Chelle would have breathed a sigh of relief after Osayi-Samuel received on-pitch treatment following an ankle knock during the game. Fortunately, he was able to continue before being substituted.

Turkish Super Lig club Fenerbahce are doing everything possible to keep Super Eagles defender, Bright Osayi Samuel beyond the end of the season. 

The latest in such twist is an improved deal presented to the representatives of the Nigerian with a view to make him sign a fresh contract so that he won’t leave the Turkish club as a free agent at the end of the season.

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The Nigerian international is nearing the end of his current contract and is now free to negotiate a pre-contract agreement with other interested clubs as from January 1st but Fenerbahce still want him in the club.

Several teams, particularly in the English Premier League, have shown interest in signing him, especially following a breakdown in talks between his representative and Fenerbahce.

In the latest development from Turkey, Fenerbahce’s board offered Osayi-Samuel a three-year deal valued at €6 million per season on Tuesday.

Osayi-Samuel, who joined from Queens Park Rangers in the winter of 2020-21, has been a key player for Fenerbahce this season.