Nigerian defender Kingsley Ehizibue has joined Italian Serie A side Udinese on a four-year deal.

Udinese announced the signing of Ehizibue from German Bundesliga side FC Koln on their website Monday evening.

“The reinforcement for the Juventus right lane comes from Germany.

“Kingsley Ehizibue is a new Udinese player. He has been permanently signed from Cologne and has signed a contract with our club until 30 June 2026 with an option for a further season.

“Right winger who can act at full range is gifted with excellent technique as well as having great athletic and physical skills that make him an ideal interpreter for Juventus tactical needs.

“Kingsley, Nigerian by nationality and origins, was born in Germany, in Munich, on May 25, 1995.

“He moved to Holland when he was just two years old, settling in Zwolle where he started playing football in the ranks of the PEC.

“He completed the whole process of youth teams up to make his debut in the first team in the 14/15 season with 4 appearances between league and cup.

“In the following season he exploded, becoming a regular at PEC Zwolle, scoring 4 goals in 26 Eredivisie games. Numbers that he also confirmed in the 16/17 year where he scores 3 times, playing 31 games both in the championship and the cup.

He took to the field 37 times also in the following season scoring a goal, repeating the same in the following year in which he also recorded 8 assists while maintaining the number of appearances at 35. In the summer of 2019, he moved to Cologne where he immediately became a regular, playing 32 games in the Bundesliga and German Cup, scoring a goal.

In the year 20/21 the total appearances are 23 in addition to the 18 of last season in which he is among the protagonists of the qualification in the Conference League of his team with whom he also played a Bundesliga match before moving to Udinese.

“In this start of the season, he played 3 games with the Cologne shirt: one in the Bundesliga, one in the German Cup and one in the Conference League.

“Ehizibue also boasts a presence with the Dutch U-21 national team.

“Welcome Kingsley,” Udinese wrote.

Former Super Eagles Coach Gernot Rohr invited Ehizibue to the team March 2020, but has failed to make an appearance with the team.

He joins fellow Nigerian Isaac Success in the Udinese team, while joining a legion of Nigerian players in the Serie A which includes Victor Osimhen, Ola Aina, Cyriel Dessers and Ademola Lookman.