Ligue 1 club OGC Nice has announced the signing of Super Eagles forward Terem Moffi on a loan deal with an obligation to buy for a fee close to €30 million including add-ons, from rivals Lorient.
The 23-year-old has been in terrific form in front of goal this season, and he is the second-leading scorer in the French top flight with 12 goals from 18 matches, just a goal behind the sensational Kylian Mbappe.
The Nigerian joined Lorient from Belgian side Kortrijk in 2020 and has made 90 appearances, scored 35 goals and assisted a teammate seven times.
🦅 @7erem_ is Niçois 🔴⚫️#OGCNice is proud to announce the arrival of Super Eagle Terem #Moffi ✍️#IssaNissa pic.twitter.com/FhmaqZPhFJ
— OGC Nice 🇬🇧🇺🇸 (@ogcnice_eng) January 31, 2023
Nice’s president, Jean-Pierre Rivere, highlighted the club’s delight at finally getting their man while also appreciating the player’s desire to join them after turning down several big money offers from bigger European clubs, most recently West Ham in the Premier League.
“We’re delighted that Terem’s determination to sign for OGC Nice, combined with our own, has led to this outcome, he said.
“The support of our owner was also invaluable,” “It’s an investment that matches our ambitions.”
Florent Ghisolfi, the sporting director of the French club, expressed the same sentiments as president Rivere when explaining the reason for signing the prolific goalscorer.
“When it comes to the ideas that we want to implement and the identity that we want to establish, he’s the ideal striker,” he said.
“Terem is capable of playing with his back to goal and of running in behind. He’s a modern striker, very pacy and very powerful. He has experience, and he fights for the team.”
“He’s capable of making run after run whilst always keeping a cool head inside the box. In Ligue 1, he’s already set the standard. A new milestone awaits him at Nice, where he’ll get to play in Europe for the first time in the spring and will be one of the key men carrying the club’s lofty aims,” the enthusiastic Ghisolfi reiterated.
Moffi is expected to be available for selection by coach Didier Digard, with his contract already signed at noon today.
Nice will travel to Stade Velodrome to face third-placed Marseille in a league match on Sunday, February 5.
