- Nigerian forward Orban’s journey began in Norway, where he became the top scorer in the 2022 Norwegian First Division with Stabæk
- Hoffenheim signed Orban from Lyon for €9 million, with potential bonuses and a 7.5% sell-on clause included in the deal
- Orban’s goal-scoring instincts and movement have made him a key player in Hoffenheim’s bid for Bundesliga survival
When Hoffenheim signed Gift Orban in the winter transfer window, expectations were very high and the youngster is making sure every cent spent on him is worth it.
The young Nigerian forward arrived in Germany with a reputation as a clinical finisher, and he is steadily proving his worth. In Hoffenheim’s 3-1 victory over Werder Bremen at the Weserstadion, Orban once again made his mark, scoring a crucial goal that secured three vital points for his struggling side.
Since joining the Bundesliga club on January 2, 2025, for a reported €9 million fee (with up to €3 million in potential bonuses), Orban has quickly adapted to his new surroundings.
His goal against Bremen was his third in his last four matches, an impressive return for a player still settling into German football. The deal also included a 7.5% sell-on clause for Lyon, underlining his growing value in European football.
The start of a remarkable journey for Orban
Orban’s rise to prominence has been anything but conventional. In November 2021, he was scouted in Nigeria by Stabæk’s Torgeir Bjarmann and Thomas Finstad during a showcase tournament.
His performances earned him a training stint in Norway, and after returning for visa-related reasons, he signed with the club in May 2022 on an initial loan deal.
It didn’t take long for Orban to announce himself. He scored his first goals in cup matches against Notodden and Gjøvik-Lyn before establishing himself as a key player. When Stabæk sold Oliver Valaker Edvardsen in July 2022, the club invested the funds in securing Orban permanently.
The decision proved a masterstroke, as he finished the season as the joint-top scorer in the Norwegian First Division with 16 goals, helping Stabæk gain promotion to the Eliteserien and earning the Young Player of the Year award.
Orban: Key to Hoffenheim’s survival fight
Orban’s new side Hoffenheim arrived in Werder Bremen in need of as many points they could get in match week 22.
Although defensive struggles continued again when Stanley Nsoki’s early own goal handed Werder the lead, however, Anton Stach and Tom Bischof turned the game around before halftime.
The decisive moment came in the 61st minute when Orban met a well-placed cross, rising high to head the ball past goalkeeper Michael Zetterer. His ability to find space and finish clinically only explains why Hoffenheim invested in him.
Now seven points clear of the relegation zone, Hoffenheim’s hopes of Bundesliga survival are looking brighter, thanks, in no small part, to Orban’s growing influence.
NFF sympathises with board vice president after encounter with armed robbers
Previously, TheRadar reported that Felix Anyansi-Agwu, the first vice president of the Nigerian Football Federation (NFF) and a revered figure in Nigerian football, was recovering after a terrifying armed robbery at his residence in Gwarinpa Estate, Abuja.
The NFF, led by President Ibrahim Gusau, had rallied around Anyansi-Agwu in the aftermath of the incident. Gusau, accompanied by NFF General Secretary Mohammed Sanusi, visited the family to show support and offer prayers for a swift recovery.
