Atalanta part-ways with Nigerian player
Italian Serie C club SPAL have officially announced the signing of Nigerian midfielder Theophilus Awua on a two-year contract. The move marks a new chapter in Awua’s career, as he leaves Europa League holders Atalanta to join SPAL.
Once considered one of Nigeria’s top emerging talents, the 26-year-old Awua has struggled to maintain his early promise, failing to secure a consistent spot in the first teams of several top-division Italian clubs. However, this transfer to SPAL offers him a fresh opportunity to revive his career in Italy’s third tier.
Born in Makurdi, Nigeria, Awua began his football journey with the Football College Abuja before moving to Italy in the 2016-2017 season. His early potential saw him associated with some of Italy’s notable clubs, including Inter Milan, Crotone, and Spezia. Over the years, Awua has been loaned to several lower-division teams, such as Juve Stabia, Rende, Bari, Livorno, Cittadella, and Pro Vercelli, where he gained valuable experience in Serie C.
Awua is no stranger to the Italian third division, having made 128 appearances in Serie C, during which he scored nine goals and provided three assists. His extensive experience in the league will be an asset to SPAL as they aim to strengthen their squad for the upcoming season.
The club introduced Awua as their latest acquisition in a presentation held on Wednesday afternoon, attended by SPAL’s technical director, Alex Casella. Awua is expected to integrate quickly into the team, as he is already familiar with some of his new teammates, including Antenucci, with whom he played at Bari, Rosafio at Cittadella, and Bachini at Juve Stabia.
Awua’s signing reflects SPAL’s ambition to build a competitive team in Serie C, and the Nigerian midfielder will be looking to make a significant impact as he embarks on this new chapter of his career.
