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Sheffield United have confirmed the signing of highly-rated Nigerian forward Ehije Ukaki from Bulgarian side Botev Plovdiv, completing their second swoop on the Eastern European club in just six months, Footynaija.com reports.
The 20-year-old, who has signed a three-year deal until the summer of 2028, follows in the footsteps of compatriot Christian Nwachukwu, who joined the Blades from the same club during the January transfer window. Ukaki’s move is subject to international clearance and the approval of relevant documentation.
A product of Nigeria’s FDC Vista academy, Ukaki made 58 appearances for Botev Plovdiv, scoring seven goals and providing four assists. His standout moment came in the fiercely contested derby against Lokomotiv Plovdiv, where he struck the winning goal.
The dynamic forward also brings valuable continental experience, having featured in four European qualifiers — two each in the Europa League and UEFA Conference League — during the 2024-2025 season.
United’s recruitment of Ukaki is part of a revamped, analytics-driven scouting system implemented by the club’s new ownership group.
Head coach Chris Wilder praised the move, saying: “Ehije is a player identified through our data-driven strategy. He’s still very young, but he’s already tasted European football and we’re excited about developing him further.”
Despite narrowly missing out on Premier League promotion after a play-off final loss to Sunderland, Sheffield United have wasted no time reshaping their squad. With Ukaki and Nwachukwu both now at Bramall Lane, the Blades are doubling down on youthful attacking talent from the Bulgarian market.
