Done deal: Flying Eagles defender Benjamin Fredrick joins Brentford B

Flying Eagles starlet Benjamin Fredrick has completed a season-long loan switch to English Premier League side Brentford’s B-team from Nigerian academy side Simoiben FC, the English side have announced. 

Centre-back Fredrick impressed for the Nigerian U-20 side at the U-20 Africa Cup of Nations in Egypt and the 2023 FIFA U-20 World Cup in Argentina, playing a starring role for the side as they impressed in both competitions. The 18-year-old defender was on the radar of multiple European sides, including Anderlecht, RB Leipzig and FC Midtjylland.

1. Brentford have decided to sign the teenager to play for their B-team, where he will play alongside David Beckham’s son, Romeo. The club’s manager Neil McFarlane waxed lyrical about the talented teenager, stating that he had been extensively watched and scouted.

MacFarlane said: “Benjamin is a player who has been identified by our recruitment department and he’s a real prospect having impressed for Nigeria in recent tournaments.

“He’s a very tenacious player who likes to defend on the front foot. He’s somebody we will look to develop through our games programme, and we’ll see how his development progresses over the course of his loan. We look forward to welcoming Benjamin to the club.”

The teenager spent time on loan at NPFL side Nasarawa United and now joins Brentford B on loan with an option to be made permanent at the end of the season. Benjamin Fredrick joins Solomon Agbalaka, Chijioke Aniagboso, Rilwanu Haliru Sarki, Jude Sunday, Salim Fago Lawal, and Samson Lawal as the 2023 Flying Eagles class members to have left the shores of the country after representing the country.