30-year-old Super Eagles’ AFCON star ‘tempted’ to ‘definitely consider’ Saudi Arabia move

The Nigeria international was outstanding at the 34th edition of the continental competition held in Cote d’Ivoire

Super Eagles defender William Troost-Ekong has confessed he is open to leaving Greek giants PAOK Thessaloniki at the end of the season should a tempting offer make it to his table, Soccernet.ng reports.

Troost-Ekong only joined PAOK last summer for €1 million after ending his three-year association with Watford.

For PAOK, Troost-Ekong featured in six Conference League matches and ten Super League 1 games before he left for the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations.

The former Udinese ace was the highest-scoring defender at the AFCON, with three goals in six matches, helping Nigeria reach the final of the competition.

Despite the Super Eagles losing the final to hosts Cote d’Ivoire, Troost-Ekong was named the Player of the Tournament and was included in the Team of the Tournament.

The 30-year-old star’s brilliance boosted his profile and attracted strong interest from a few yet-to-be-identified clubs in the Saudi Arabian top-flight league.

Troost-Ekong, who almost missed the AFCON due to a row with coach Jose Peseiro, emphasises that he is happy at PAOK with the White-Blacks sitting pretty at the top of the Greek Super League 1 after matchday 26.

However, the former Watford star admits that a ‘tempting’ offer could cause him to change clubs in the summer.

“I can’t reiterate enough how happy I am here at PAOK, but you never know in football… you might get tempted by something bigger and better,” Troost-Ekong told CNN.

“I think at my age of 30, you have to think about all your options. It will be something that I definitely consider.”

Troost-Ekong, who boasts 71 international caps for Nigeria, has played in the Netherlands, England, Belgium, Italy, and Turkey.