Stoke City of England summer signing, Oghenekaro Etebo has opted for jersey number 8 at the former English Premier League League club, as he aims to keep the momentum of his favourite figure in the Nigerian national team.
Fortunately for Etebo, the number is vacant, as it was donned last season by former Liverpool defender, Glen Johnson, who was released by The Potters after their demotion to the second tier EFL Championship.
It would be recalled that Etebo became the first player to score four goals for Nigeria at the Olympic Games in a 5-4 victory over Japan at Rio 2016, wearing jersey number 8, then donned the same figure for the Super Eagles at Russia 2018.
He is now angling to settle down fast, after arriving at his new base on Tuesday morning, just in time to be named in the roster for their training camp in Germany.
Etebo revealed that he turned down the chance to join English Premier League clubs in favour of penning a deal with Stoke City this summer.
Watford had expressed the most concrete interest in signing Etebo, and he would have been at The Hornets, but they did not guarantee him regular playing opportunities and the contract offered to him by the Premier League side was considered paltry.
He has linked up with his new teammates at The Potters and is line to make his debut at their camp in Germany when they face VfL Bochum, before also taking on Meppen and SV Hamburg in friendly matches.
He disclosed: ”I had a lot of options this summer from the Premier League, but I signed this deal before I went to the World Cup, and I am happy with that.
”I did that because of the relationship and the conversations I had. I was happy with what was said – if I wasn’t then I wouldn’t have come to Stoke City.
”I believe that we are going to make this a great season. I am going to give my best and hopefully that will be enough for the Club.”
