Official: Nigeria youngster Umeh Emmanuel joins FC Zurich from Bulgaria’s Plovdiv

Swiss club FC Zurich have signed promising Nigerian talent Umeh Emmanuel from Bulgaria’s Botev Plovdiv, Soccernet.ng reports

The announcement was made on the club’s official website on Monday, July 8.

The 19-year-old striker has agreed to a five-year contract with FC Zurich. Emmanuel previously played for Botev Plovdiv, where he had been for the past two years after transferring from Russian club FDC Vista.

While the transfer fee remains undisclosed, Emmanuel’s football journey has been noteworthy.

Umeh Emmanuel
He started at the Right2Win Football Academy in Nigeria before moving to Vista Gelendzhik in Russia.

In 2022, he joined Botev Plovdiv and made his professional debut on October 15, 2022, in a match where Botev Plovdiv defeated Pirin 3-1.

He scored his first professional goal on March 4, 2023, leading his team to a 2-1 victory over Cherno More.

Emmanuel also played a significant role in Botev Plovdiv’s Bulgarian Cup victory this year – the club’s first major trophy win since 2017.

Additionally, he represented Nigeria’s under-20 team at the 2023 FIFA U-20 World Cup in Argentina.

Although he did not score any goals, he provided two assists during the tournament, helping Nigeria reach the quarter-finals before being knocked out by South Korea.

Emmanuel’s move to FC Zurich marks a new chapter in his promising career as he looks forward to contributing to his new team in Switzerland.