Super Eagles vice-captain William Troost-Ekong has agreed to join Serie A club Salernitana on loan with an obligation to buy.
The Italian club revealed the news of the deal on their official social media channels, along with a picture of the center-back donning their jersey.
“US Salernitana 1919 communicates that it has reached an agreement with Watford FC for the temporary transfer with the right to buy the defender born in ’93 William Troost-Ekong,” the club announced on their official website.
Ekong expressed his happiness at joining the Italian side and revealed his goal of helping them stay in the top flight.
“I’m happy to have arrived at Salernitana. I want to help conquer salvation,” he said.
🇱🇻 𝘞𝘌𝘓𝘊𝘖𝘔𝘌 𝘞𝘐𝘓𝘓𝘐𝘈𝘔 🇱🇻#TroostEkong #welcome #macteanimo #forzagranata #macteanimo pic.twitter.com/t8u4uDJY6m
— US Salernitana 1919 (@OfficialUSS1919) January 24, 2023
On Monday, the 29-year-old penned a heartfelt message to his former club, Watford, thanking them for the three seasons he spent there. He has played in 17 league games for the Hornets this season, with one goal to his name.
The 2016 Olympic Bronze medalist is familiar with life in Italy after a two-year spell with Udinese from 2018-2020, featuring 65 times for the Little Zebras.
Salernitana are finding life tough in their second season back in the top flight with 18 points from 19 games. They are currently without a win in their last seven games, with two draws and five losses, including a disappointing performance in a crushing 8-2 defeat to Atalanta.
The Garnets will require the experience of the Nigerian international to shore up their defence, which has conceded 37 goals in Serie A, the most of any team so far this season, and Ekong will look to make his debut against newly promoted Lecce in Serie A this Friday.
