Gift Orban: At Crossroads Between Legue1 and Bundesliga

After his heroics in the Europa Conference League in which he scored the fastest hattrick in the history of the competition, KAA Gent’s Nigeria star, Gift Orban has become the proverbial gold fish with no hiding place. His league scoring form of 20 goals in 22 matches speaks volumes to the kind of marksman he is proving be. Little wonder Ligue 1 sides, RC Lens and LOSC Lille are scrambling for his signature, while Bundesliga campaigners Bayer 04 Leverkusen are also looking in his direction to solving their goal scoring deficiency

Twenty-goal Nigerian KAA Gent’s star, Gift Orban could be set to making his mark in Ligue 1 as two French clubs vie for his signature. According to FootMercato, the race for the Nigeria striker’s services heats up as Lille and Lens compete for the talented young player.

In just six months since joining La Gantoise from Stabæk Fotball, Orban has taken the Belgian football scene by storm.

His remarkable goal-scoring prowess has captivated fans and experts alike. Despite his tender age of 20, Orban has already netted an impressive 20 goals in 22 games across all competitions, along with two assists.

Notably, the talented striker made history in the Europa League Conference, recording a lightning-fast hat-trick in just three minutes against Istanbul Basaksehir.

His exceptional performances have reportedly caught the attention of FC Barcelona.

However, it is LOSC and RC Lens, two French clubs preparing for European campaigns next season, battling for Orban’s coveted signature.

Both teams boast formidable attacking options with Loïs Openda (21 goals) and Jonathan David (24 goals), respectively.

These highly sought-after players will likely make moves during the summer transfer window.

Openda has attracted interest from RB Leipzig, who had their initial bid of €30 million rejected by Lens. Leipzig is expected to return with an improved offer that will be hard to refuse. Meanwhile, Canadian forward, Jonathan David is also contemplating a departure.

A thrilling transfer faceoff between the two Hauts-de-France clubs is on the horizon as they engage in concrete negotiations to entice Orban to join their ranks in Ligue 1.

Gent, who secured Orban’s services for a mere €3.5 million barely six months ago, anticipates a substantial transfer fee of not less than €20 million to facilitate his departure.

Meanwhile, German Bundesliga campaigners Bayer 04 Leverkusen have endured a disappointing season due to unforeseen challenges in the striker department and to address their pressing issue, Leverkusen have set their sights on Orban.

The 20-year-old kid wonder has captured attention with an exceptional goal-scoring record, boasting 20 goals in 22 games across the Belgian and Conference leagues.

Notably, Orban’s ability to replicate his domestic success on the European stage distinguishes him from other potential targets.

However, Leverkusen faces stiff competition in securing  the Nigerian’s services, as other clubs have also recognised his precise finishing and overall brilliance.

Gent reportedly want €50 million for Orban, a fee only a few outside of Europe’s heavyweights can afford.

Having qualified for the Europa League, Leverkusen must start planning for the upcoming season and to become a serious contender in the competitions they have qualified for, the team must bolster their attacking arsenal by acquiring the services of a player in the mold of Orban.

With his proven scoring prowess, the Nigerian prodigy possesses the potential to reignite Leverkusen’s goal-scoring capabilities.

As Bayer Leverkusen aims to strengthen its foundation, the addition of Orban could serve as the catalyst to propel them back into the upper echelons of German football.

With the team’s sights set on success, Orban’s talent and scoring ability offer hope for a brighter future.

Interestingly, Premier League newcomers Burnley, have been credited with an interest in the 20-year-old but there’s nothing concrete to suggest that Vincent Kompany will be pursuing a deal for the Nigerian in this window.  The Clarets have however made no contact whatsoever with either Orban or his camp.

From obscurity in Nigeria and Togo to the Belgian Pro League, the 20-year-old striker has taken the football world by storm, scoring goals for fun and winning accolades along the way.

Orban’s journey began in Nigeria, where he struggled to make a name for himself in the footballing world.

However, fate intervened when he moved to Togo for better opportunities. It was here that he caught the attention of renowned Nigerian scout Ola Fowler, who spotted Orban during a trials program in Lome.

Fowler invited him to Nigeria to feature in a program in Uyo, where Norwegian scouts spotted him. They were impressed and invited him to Norway for a trial, and Orban did not disappoint.

He signed for Stabaek FC on loan with an option to buy, marking the beginning of his European journey.

Despite initial hiccups and visa issues, Orban impressed the powers that be at Stabaek FC with his exceptional performances, and they offered him a long-term deal until 2026.

The Bison FC academy product needed little time to adapt to life in Norway, and soon he became a nightmare to defenders in the country.

Orban found the net with ease and became the top scorer in the 2022 Norwegian First Division with 16 goals, helping Stabaek win promotion to the 2023 Eliteserien.

Orban finished the season with 19 goals in all competitions in 24 games, making him a sensation in Norwegian football.

Orban’s impressive performances caught the attention of Belgian Pro League side KAA Gent, who signed him on a permanent deal for €3.30 million in January 2023. Critics deemed the fee too expensive, but Orban silenced them with his on-field exploits.

He scored nine goals in his first few games, including a stunning brace on his Pro League debut and a historic four-goal haul against Zulte Waregem that makes him the first player from the club to score four goals in a single Pro League game this century.

Fast, clinical, and ruthless, Orban is equally adept with both feet and plays with the seriousness of one who knows that the Belgian Pro League is a step toward something greater.

Orban’s dream is to play in the Premier League, and he makes no secret of it.

He knows he still has much work to do to reach that level, but he is determined to get there.

“My level has to be even higher if I ever want to play in the Premier League. There is still a lot of work to be done,” Orban told Gent’s official website.

That Orban would be priced away from Gent this summer is not negotiable, what is not certain however is his next port of call.