Nigeria Striker, Ajibade Joins Atletico Madrid

The Spanish giants secured the services of the Super Falcons forward from her Norwegian Toppserien outfit

Rasheedat Ajibade has joined former Spanish champions Atletico Madrid on a two-year deal from Norwegian outfit Avaldsnes.

Ajibade arrived at the Spanish club – her second move in Europe after her contract with Avaldsnes ran out in December 2020.

The Nigeria international joined Avaldsnes Idrettssenter on a two-year deal from Nigerian side Robo Queens in December 2018, helping them to a fifth-place finish, scoring five goals in 2019.

The 21-year-old went on to establish herself in Thomas Dahle’s ladies side with eight goals from 18 games and made the Toppserien Team of the Week eight times as they bagged bronze.

On completing Las Rojiblancas switch, the striker expressed joy over the move to Spain and is eager to hit the ground running in the coming days with the Madrid-based outfit.

“It is a great privilege and an opportunity to be here,” Ajibade told the club website.

“I am excited to be a part of this team and I hope that together we achieve success. It is a great step in my career and a great challenge for me and I am ready to give it my all.

“I am a versatile, energetic and hard-working player. I tell the Atléticos that I’m going to do my best so that they and the team can feel proud.”

It is a great privilege and joy for me to be joining Atletico Madrid Feminino.

It is an opportunity I will never take for granted, and I am ready to give my all to push this great club to even greater heights.

Her move to Atletico will see her become the second Nigeria to play for the Spanish giants after Francisca Ordega’s loan spell in 2017.

Her arrival increases Nigerians in the Spanish top-flight to six after Eibar’s Charity Adule, Barcelona’s Asisat Oshoala, Sevilla’s Toni Payne, Madrid CFF duo Rita Chikwelu and Chidinma Okeke.

She is expected to make her debut for Atletico, who are third on the log when they host Rayo Vallecano in their next clash on January 6.