Kevin Akpoguma joins Frosinone on a free transfer while Ebenezer Akinsanmiro heads to Pisa — two fresh chapters in a busy summer for Nigerian players in Italy.
Two Super Eagles internationals have new addresses in Italy this week. Defender Kevin Akpoguma has completed a free transfer to newly promoted Frosinone, while midfielder Ebenezer Akinsanmiro has sealed a move to fellow Serie A side Pisa. Both deals close out uncertain summers for the pair, and both matter for Nigeria’s growing footprint in Italian football.
Akpoguma parted ways with Hoffenheim at the end of last season after 13 years at the German club. The 31-year-old had been linked with a move to Frosinone for several days before the deal was confirmed, and he has now signed a two-year contract at the newly promoted Serie A outfit. That gives the experienced centre-back a fresh start in a new league, joining a squad that will need every ounce of top-flight experience it can find to survive its first season back among Italy’s elite.
For Nigeria, it’s another example of a Super Eagles regular choosing to test himself in one of Europe’s traditional top five leagues rather than winding down his career elsewhere. As a result, Akpoguma adds to a small but growing group of Nigerian defenders now plying their trade in Serie A.
Akinsanmiro’s route to Serie A has been less direct. The midfielder joined Inter Milan from Remo Stars and spent three years trying to break into the first team, without success. Consequently, the last two seasons were spent out on loan, first at Sampdoria and then at Pisa, where he impressed enough to earn a permanent switch.
That permanent move to Pisa is notable because it wasn’t originally expected to be a straightforward buy — reports initially suggested a different structure to the deal before it was finalised outright. Either way, Akinsanmiro now has the stability of a permanent home after two years of loan spells, and a real chance to build a consistent run of Serie A football for the first time in his career.
Neither transfer will dominate headlines the way a Victor Osimhen or Ademola Lookman story does, but together they reflect something bigger: a steady pipeline of Super Eagles talent finding regular football in one of Europe’s most competitive leagues. Akpoguma brings a wealth of Bundesliga experience to Frosinone’s defence, while Akinsanmiro gets the chance to develop consistently at Pisa after years of shuttling between loan clubs.
That said, both players now face the same challenge — proving they can be first-team fixtures rather than squad depth. Frosinone and Pisa are both newly promoted or recently promoted sides fighting to establish themselves in Serie A, which means game time should come more readily than it might at a bigger club. For Nigerian fans tracking the Super Eagles’ rebuild after missing out on the World Cup, more first-team football for fringe internationals abroad is exactly the kind of progress Eric Chelle’s coaching staff will want to see.
Akpoguma and Akinsanmiro’s moves are part of a wider wave of Super Eagles-eligible players changing clubs this summer, alongside ongoing transfer sagas involving bigger names like Victor Osimhen. Our coverage of Osimhen’s stalled move to Atletico Madrid tracks the striker’s search for a new club, while both of these Serie A deals show that Nigerian transfer activity extends well beyond the marquee names most fans focus on.
Which club has Kevin Akpoguma joined?
Akpoguma has signed a two-year contract with newly promoted Serie A club Frosinone on a free transfer after leaving Hoffenheim.
Where has Ebenezer Akinsanmiro moved to?
Akinsanmiro has completed a permanent transfer to Pisa, having previously spent loan spells there and at Sampdoria while contracted to Inter Milan.
Are both players full Super Eagles internationals?
Yes, both Akpoguma and Akinsanmiro are established members of the Nigeria senior national team setup.
Source: Afrik-Foot.
⚡ Ready to bet? Betwinner — 200% Bonus for new players. Read our Betwinner review or claim the offer now.
18+. New customers only. T&Cs apply. Please gamble responsibly.
