Simy Nwankwo Joins Al Orobah for Saudi Promotion Push

Nigerian striker, Simy Nwankwo, has officially embarked on a new chapter of his career, completing a transfer to Saudi Arabian club, Al Orobah. The move comes after the expiration of his contract with Italian club Salernitana, concluding a four-year association that saw the towering forward endure a challenging final season. At 33 years old, the transfer signals a fresh start for the veteran striker, who will now be a key figure in Al Orobah’s ambitious push for promotion to the elite Saudi Professional Football League. This career move places Nwankwo at the heart of the global football landscape, as Saudi Arabia continues to attract international talent as part of a strategic vision to transform its league into a world-class football hub.

Nwankwo’s journey to Saudi Arabia has been defined by his prolific goal-scoring prowess in Italy. He is fondly remembered for his time at Crotone, where he achieved remarkable success in Serie B. In the 2019-20 season, Nwankwo was at the peak of his form, emerging as the top scorer in the league with a stunning 20 goals. This impressive feat not only helped Crotone secure promotion to Serie A but also cemented his legacy as the club’s all-time top goalscorer with 66 goals in all competitions. His impressive form continued in Serie A during the 2020-21 season, where he netted 20 goals, becoming the highest-scoring Nigerian in the history of the Italian top flight. However, this impressive individual performance was not enough to prevent Crotone’s relegation, leading to his eventual move to Salernitana. At Salernitana, his goal-scoring record was not as prolific, and he found himself on loan spells with Parma and Benevento, a clear sign that a change of scenery was needed for the player to regain his form and confidence.

The move to Al Orobah is a strategic one, given the current climate of the Saudi football league. Al Orobah is not in the top-tier Saudi Professional Football League (SPL) but rather the Saudi First Division League (FDL), the second tier of professional football in the country. The club’s primary objective for the new season is to secure promotion to the SPL, and they have identified a veteran striker of Nwankwo’s calibre as a crucial piece of that puzzle. The acquisition of an experienced player with a proven track record of scoring goals in a top European league demonstrates Al Orobah’s seriousness about their promotion ambitions. For Nwankwo, the transfer offers him an opportunity to take on a leadership role and be the main man in attack, a position he thrived in during his most successful years in Italy. He will be under pressure to deliver goals and lead his new club’s charge towards the top flight, a challenge he is expected to embrace with great enthusiasm as he starts a new chapter in his career.

The transfer also highlights the growing influence of Saudi football on the international stage. As part of “Saudi Vision 2030,” the country has made massive investments to transform its football landscape, with major clubs like Al-Nassr, Al-Hilal, and Al-Ittihad attracting global superstars like Cristiano Ronaldo, Neymar, and Karim Benzema. While Nwankwo’s move is not to one of these high-profile clubs, it is part of a broader trend where Saudi Arabian teams are looking to improve the quality of their leagues by signing experienced talent from around the world. The transfer of a player with a history of strong performances in a major European league like Serie A is a testament to the league’s rising reputation and its appeal to players at all levels of their careers. As Al Orobah pushes for promotion, the presence of a seasoned international player like Nwankwo will not only boost their on-field performance but also elevate the club’s profile within the league. Nwankwo was also part of Nigeria’s squad to the 2018 FIFA World Cup in Russia, a significant achievement that speaks to his experience and quality at the international level. His move to Al Orobah is a testament to his enduring desire to play at the highest level and his belief that he still has much to contribute to the beautiful game.