Nigerian AFCON winner joins Finish club

Nigerian defender Elderson Echiejile

Tuesday Mar 12, 2019. 17:15

Nigeria international and 2013 Africa Cup of Nations winner, Elderson Echiejile, has joined Finnish club side HJK Helsinki.

The 31-year-old has signed a nine-month contract (until the end of the Finnish top division season which only starts in the next month), and has an option to extend for another year, according to BBC Sport.

Echiejile has been without a club since leaving French Ligue 1 side Monaco in July last year.

The left-back made over 50 appearances for Monaco, winning the 2016-17 league title. He most prominently played 105 matches for Portuguese club Braga, scoring eight times, before joining Monaco.

''Elderson is an experienced player. He is also good in the aerial game, so we get added value to our special situations,'' HJK manager Mika Lehkosuo told the club's official website.

''He immediately adapted to the team and got along well with others. Training sessions are now important to Elderson, because he is lacking game time. We have enough time to get him fit for the beginning of the season.''

Echiejile has been been capped 59 times by the Super Eagles since making his debut nine years ago.