Nigerian Saviour flies under the radar and moves to Saudi Arabia

Not all transfers to Saudi Arabia are marked by tens of millions of dollars, glitz and glamour. Some resemble your "normal" football transfers, where average players move from one average club to another. Well, that's refreshing - and a Nigerian boy is the hype-free man of the hour.

Born in Jos, the same city where John Mikel Obi, Ogenyi Onazi and Ahmed Musa come from, 27-year-old Saviour Godwin adds Saudi Arabia to the list of the countries he played in - after his homeland, Belgium and Portugal.

Godwin's transfer from Casa Pia to the Saudi club Al-Akhdood has been confirmed by the Portuguese side. The Nigerian winger has departed the club after three seasons of playing for the little club from Lisbon.

Casa Pia officially announced his departure through a farewell message, emphasizing Godwin's hard work and dedication. He has signed a one-year contract with the Saudi club, with an option for an additional year, which has provided Casa Pia with a transfer fee of around $2.7 million, the highest in the club's history.

Godwin's journey is often described as one of overcoming adversity and achieving success. Despite facing difficulties with unpaid salaries at different clubs in the past, he found stability and growth at Casa Pia. During his time with the club, the former winger for Belgian clubs KV Oostende and Roselare played a crucial role in Casa Pia's promotion to the Primeira Liga. Over three seasons, he contributed 24 goals and 14 assists, and became a fan favourite. His achievements also earned him a call-up to the Nigerian national team, for which he made a single friendly appearance last year.

Casa Pia expressed respect and gratitude for Godwin's contributions and noted that his desire for financial independence, along with his contract situation, played a role in the transfer to Al-Akhdood. They wished him the best in his new adventure and hoped to see him shine in the next stage of his football journey, acknowledging that he will always be a part of the Casa Pia family.