Udinese have signed Nigerian goalkeeper Maduka Okoye from Watford on a four-year contract.
The 23-year-old has previously played in the English Championship and the Dutch Eredivisie.
Okoye was born in Germany to Nigerian parents and started his career at Bayer Leverkusen’s academy. He then moved to Fortuna Dusseldorf, where he played for their under-19s and second team. In 2020, he joined Sparta Rotterdam and made 60 appearances in two seasons.
He signed for Watford in January 2022 but only played two games for the club in the domestic cups.
The Super Eagle’s shot-stopper will wear the number 40 shirt for the Italian club. The Bianconeri described him as a goalkeeper with a “real physical presence and impressive technique” on their website.
Watford also confirmed Okoye’s departure and wished him well.
Okoye has 16 caps for Nigeria and debuted in 2019 against Brazil. He hopes to get more playing time at Udinese and prepare for the 2024 African Cup of Nations in Ivory Coast.
