Former Nigeria U17 midfielder Hamzat Ojediran has joined French top division side Racing Club Lens on a four-year contract.
The defensive midfielder departed Debrecen in a club record €1.5m deal for foreigners at the Hungarian side.
Ojediran was developed at the Emmanuel Amuneke academy in Nigeria before moving to Europe to join Albanian side KF Egnatia in August 2022.
He then sealed a season-long loan transfer to Debrecen in February the following year before completing a permanent €45,000 move to the Hungarian side in the summer of 2023.
Ojediran played a total of 34 matches for the seven-time Hungarian top flight champions and registered 3 goals and 3 assists and scooped the 2023/2024 player of the season award before his big move to France.
A balanced midfielder capable of defending while advancing, and very good at recovery and anticipation, RC Lens manager Frank Haise expressed the club’s delight at their new recruit.
“We are pleased to announce the signing of Hamzat Ojediran for the next four seasons”, RC Lens manager Frank Haise started.
“A revelation in the Hungarian championship in 2023/24, Hamzat is a true force of nature. An explosive and athletic midfielder, he is an aggressive ball-winner in the good sense of the word.
“His determination and commitment on the pitch correspond exactly to what is expected of an RC Lens player.
“Welcome Hamzat!”
The 20 year-old is the fourth Nigerian to have played for the Ligue 1 club, following in the footsteps of Emmanuel Akwuegbu, Wilson Oruma and John Utaka.
Ojediran made his debut in a 5-minute appearance in RC Lens’ 3-0 win over Premier League side Leicester City in a pre-season game on Saturday.
