Raphael Onyedika has spent four seasons at Club Brugge becoming one of the most complete defensive midfielders in Belgian football, and now a man who knows the club well believes this summer will finally be the one where he leaves, Footynaija.com reports.
Hein Vanhaezebrouck, who coached Club Brugge between 2021 and 2023 and won the Belgian title in his first season there, was unequivocal in his assessment.
The former Brugge coach watched Onyedika closely during his time in charge and says the Champions League performances this season have simply made it impossible for the club to hold on to him.
“He’s outstanding and great. They won’t be able to keep him after this season. He was very strong, and he has seen all of Europe, playing well in the UCL,” Vanhaezebrouck said, as quoted by Score Nigeria.
Onyedika’s summer plans
The 24-year-old joined Brugge from FC Midtjylland in 2022 and has since made 168 appearances for the club across all competitions. He played nine Champions League games this season, including qualification, and was a standout in their group stage campaign.
In January, Wolfsburg came with a €20 million bid and were turned down, with Galatasaray also failing to meet Club Brugge’s valuation earlier in the window. All parties agreed at the time to revisit the situation in the summer, and that conversation is fast approaching.
West Ham have been the most persistent Premier League admirers, with Tottenham, Everton, Eintracht Frankfurt and AC Milan also circling. His contract runs until June 2027, which gives Club Brugge a position of strength in negotiations, but Vanhaezebrouck’s read of the situation suggests the club themselves know the window is closing on keeping one of their most valuable assets.
