Veteran Nigeria defender Leon Balogun has signed a one-year contract with Cypriot First Division club Aris Limassol, following the expiration of his deal with Rangers FC in Scotland.
The 36-year-old center-back, who was born in Berlin and has represented Nigeria 46 times, joins Aris as a free agent ahead of the 2025-26 season. His move marks the next chapter in a career that has spanned top European leagues, including the English Premier League, German Bundesliga, and Scottish Premiership.
Balogun’s arrival is a major boost for Aris Limassol, who will benefit from his vast experience at the highest level of club and international football. The 1.90m tall defender boasts appearances for clubs across Germany, England, and Scotland.
He began his professional journey in Germany with Hertha Berlin, later making his Bundesliga debut for Hannover 96 in the 2008–09 season. Balogun went on to feature for Werder Bremen, Fortuna Düsseldorf, Darmstadt, and Mainz 05, where he became a regular in the Bundesliga, making 75 top-flight appearances and scoring once.
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In 2018, he moved to the English Premier League with Brighton & Hove Albion, where he made 8 league appearances and scored once. He later joined Wigan Athletic on loan, before sealing a switch to Rangers FC in 2020.
During his time in Scotland, Balogun became a fan favorite, playing a key role as Rangers won the Scottish Premiership title, the Scottish Cup, and the Scottish League Cup. He made a total of 114 appearances for the club across two spells, sandwiching a season at Queens Park Rangers (QPR) in the English Championship.
Balogun also featured in 29 European matches, scoring twice, further highlighting his continental pedigree.
On the international scene, Balogun has been a consistent presence for the Super Eagles of Nigeria since making his debut in 2014. He was part of Nigeria’s squad at the 2018 FIFA World Cup in Russia and helped the team secure third place at the 2019 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) in Egypt.
He has 46 caps and one international goal to his name, and was widely admired for his leadership and composure at the back for the national team.
Balogun’s move to Aris Limassol, who won the league in 2023, comes at a time when the club is looking to bolster its defensive line and build on recent successes in the domestic league and European competitions.
In a statement on the club’s website, Aris hailed Balogun’s wealth of experience and welcomed him to the team.
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