Seventh Nigerian footballer moves to China

John Owoeri

The Chinese Super League (CSL) is rapidly becoming a safe haven for Nigerian players.

Following the footstep of Super Eagles skipper, Mikel Obi, is ex-teammate at youth level John Owoeri.

Owoeri, 30, is the latest Nigerian to move to the Asian nation.

He just moved from Sweden’s BK Hacken.

The winger who played alongside Mikel at the FIFA U20 World Cup in 2005 joins Baoding Yingli Yitong after finishing as top scorer in the Scandinavian country.

He thus becomes the seventh Nigerian to join the bandwagon moving to the CSL.

Aside Mikel, Peter Utaka, Obafemi Martins, Chinedu Obasi and most recently Odion Ighalo have all moved to the wealthy football-crazy nation.

According to the club, Owoeri will “further strengthen the current squad and drive the team hit a new level. We are looking forward to the new season.”

He becomes the second foreigner in Zhao Changhong’s squad after Norway’s Lars Sætra.

Owoeri has only been capped once by the Super Eagles in 2010.