Golden Eaglets captain, Tijani joins RB Salzburg

Captain of Nigeria’s national Under-17 team; Golden Eaglets, Samson Tijani has joined Austrian Bundesliga champions Red Bull Salzburg (RB Salzburg) on a five-year deal, www.aclsports.com reports.

Tijani, 18, captained the Eaglets’ Class of 2019 under the tutelage of Manu Garba. The midfielder led the team to a fourth-placed finish at the 2019 Africa Under-17 Championship in Tanzania, sufficient enough to qualify the team for the global competition.

At the World Championship in Brazil, Tijani also captained the team and scored twice in Nigeria’s opening group game against Hungary which the Eaglets won 4-2.

RB Salzburg confirmed the signing of the Collins Edwin starlet on their website on Thursday afternoon.

“Samson Okikiola Tijani is a promising midfield talent from Nigeria.

“The 18-year-old feels most comfortable in a holding midfield position and stands out, above all, for his dynamic and uncompromising playing style.

“He has proved his quality in ten performances for his home country’s U17 team, who he captained to a place in the semi-finals of the African Cup of Nations and last 16 of the World Cup.

“Tijani has joined from Collins Edwin SC and signed a contract in Salzburg running until 31 May 2025,” read the Salzburg statement.

Tijani thus becomes the second member of the Golden Eaglets Class of 2019 to secure a move to Europe this summer after his teammate Akinkunmi Amoo joined Swedish side Hammarby last month.