C.D. Leganés and Chelsea F.C. reach a transfer agreement for the 25-year-old Nigerian central defender, Kenneth Josiah Omeruo. The African defender, who already wore the cucumber shirt last season during a loan, signs for the next five seasons, until June 30th, 2024.
Omeruo already demonstrated in Butarque, during last season, his skills as a defender: a great strength and speed that allows him to anticipate the play with excellence and show a potent aerial game. With just 17 years, he left his country to Belgium to enroll in the lower categories of the Standard of Liege, where he caught the attention of Chelsea, signing him on property to then loan him the Dutch side ADO La Haya for the second half of the 2011/12 season and then for the 2012/13 season.
The period playing in the Eredivisie served him to return to Chelsea, then loaned to Middlesbrough, where he would remain for season and a half. In 2015, he packed his bags to Turkey after renewing with the 'blues', playing for Kasimpasa in 2015/16, then Alanyaspor in 2016/17 and ended up again in Kasimpasa in 2017/18, being the undoubted owner of the center-back in all teams.
During his first year in LaLiga, Omeruo played 31 official matches under the management of Mauricio Pellegrino, 30 of them as a starter, totaling 2,700 minutes and being fundamental in the three-player defense, a tactic constantly used by the Argentine coach during last season.
Omeruo is permanent with the Nigerian National Team, defending his nation 50 times, being present in two World Cups, a Confederations Cup and two African Cup of Nations: winning the continents tournament in 2013 being only 19 years and last edition, where he helped his team achieve the bronze and debuting as a scorer for his country. In 2014, he played the World Cup in Brazil, starting in all four matches for Nigeria, falling in the round of 16 against France. Last World Cup, in Russia, he played against Iceland and Argentina, falling in the group phase with the Green Eagles.
Omeruo will join training with the rest of his teammates on … August …, and his presentation will take place on ...