Nigerian forward Chuba Akpom has completed a short-term loan move to French side Lille from Ajax, Afrosport reports.
Akpom, whose contract with Ajax runs until June 2028, joins Lille until the end of the season, with the deal including an option to buy for the Ligue 1 club.
“I am very happy to be here. LOSC is a great club, one of the best in France, which plays beautiful football, which achieves great things in Europe and in the championship,” Akpom told the club website.
“I was able to see that there was a great state of mind in the group. I am impatient to be able to start my adventure here. I would like to thank the President and everyone at the club for allowing me to sign here.”
𝐕𝐨𝐭𝐫𝐞 𝐧𝐨𝐮𝐯𝐞𝐚𝐮 𝐧𝐮𝐦𝐞́𝐫𝐨 𝟐𝟒 🤩
Welcome to Lille, Chuba ! pic.twitter.com/kuWKmkWEQD
— LOSC (@losclive) February 2, 2025
The 29-year-old moved to the Netherlands in August 2023 from English side Middlesbrough, scoring 23 goals and providing four assists in 68 matches in all competitions for Ajax.
Olivier Letang, Lille’s President said: “It is with great pleasure that we announce the arrival of Chuba. We have been following him for a very long time, he has played in big clubs and he has experience in European competitions.
“We had already wanted to bring him in the past but it had not been possible. Chuba is a striker capable of playing in different positions, in several positions on the front of the attack. He will bring complementary qualities to the current group so that we are even stronger.
“His human qualities will allow him to integrate very quickly into our squad. Chuba really pushed to join us and we are very happy that he is now part of the Dogues family. Welcome Chuba.”
Akpom departs Ajax with the team currently second in the Eredivisie and in the Europa League knockout phase play-offs, where they will face Union Saint-Gilloise.
He joins a Lille side presently fourth in Ligue 1 on 35 points and are into the Champions League last 16 after finishing seventh following the conclusion of the league phase.