Orji Okonkwo joins Montreal Impact on loan

by Graeme Jackson

Thursday Feb 14, 2019. 10:15

Nigerian forward Orji Okonkwo has joined Major League Soccer (MLS) side Montreal Impact on loan for the 2019 season.

The 21-year-old joins from Italian Serie A side Bologna and will be looking to have more regular playing time in North America.

Okonkwo has made just 27 Serie A appearances (with only four as a starter) since joining Bologna in 2016.

The arrival of the Nigerian is a boost for Impact, with coach Remi Garde expressing his contentment at the transfer.

"I'm satisfied in welcoming another striker to the team," Garde said in a statement. "Orji Okwonkwo is a young player scouted by Bologna three years ago who will help reinforce the team offensively.

“He's a strong and quick forward who has an interesting margin of progression. I would like to welcome him to the team."

The Nigerian bolsters Impact’s list of African players, which includes Algeria’s Saphir Taider, Senegalese goalkeeper Clement Diop and Ugandan Michael Azira.

Okonwko made his name in 2015 by starring for the Nigerian team which won the U-17 World Cup. He appeared in five matches and scored one goal.

Okonkwo, who started out at the FC Abuja Academy, has also had a spell on loan with Brescia.

Impact open their 2019 MLS regular season on March 2 with an away against the San Jose Earthquakes.