Super Eagles transfer: Key reason Olympiakos rejected bid for Bruno Onyemaechi

Greek giants Olympiakos have revealed that the club rejected an offer for Super Eagles defender Bruno Onyemaechi from an unnamed club, Afrik-Foot reports.

Olympiakos have made it clear that the Nigerian left-back will not leave the club unless their asking price is met. The Greek Super League champions have placed a firm €3 million valuation on the 27-year-old and have already turned down bids that failed to reach that figure. Interest in Onyemaechi is growing across Europe, with Turkish Süper Lig side Trabzonspor believed to be leading the race, while clubs from Spain, France and Portugal have also made enquiries.

According to Greek outlet Gazzetta, citing Olympiakos vice-president Kostas Karapapas, the club recently received offers for several players, including Francisco Ortega, André Luiz, and Onyemaechi. Speaking during the team’s pre-season tour in the Netherlands, Karapapas confirmed that the proposal for the Nigerian international was rejected because the club considers him “a very good footballer.”

The decision also shows that Olympiakos are not under pressure to sell. Onyemaechi is under contract until June 30, 2028, after joining from Portuguese side Boavista in January 2025 for around €2.5 million.

Although he has not completely nailed down a regular starting place, Olympiakos believe his value has increased after helping the club win the Greek Super League title and making 39 appearances in all competitions, including five UEFA Champions League matches.

Trabzonspor’s interest is not new. The Turkish club tried to sign Onyemaechi before Olympiakos completed his move from Boavista in January. It is likely they have renewed their pursuit, but Olympiakos are refusing to negotiate below their valuation, especially with several clubs monitoring the defender.

Another major reason behind Olympiakos’ decision is Onyemaechi’s importance to head coach José Luis Mendilibar ahead of the new campaign.

The Nigerian started Olympiakos’ final pre-season friendly against AZ Alkmaar before their UEFA Champions League third qualifying round clash against NEC Nijmegen. That is usually a strong sign that he remains part of the manager’s plans despite transfer speculation.

Onyemaechi offers qualities that few full-backs in the squad can match. Standing at 1.84 metres, he is physically strong, dominates aerial battles and is known for his solid defending against dangerous wingers.

His versatility also makes him a valuable squad player. Before becoming a left-back, Onyemaechi played as a winger, centre-back and defensive midfielder during his career in Portugal. That experience allows him to fit into different tactical systems and gives Mendilibar more options during the long domestic and European season.

His performances for Nigeria have also boosted his reputation. The Super Eagles defender established himself as the country’s first-choice left-back during the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations, starting six matches and averaging a 7.20 match rating.

Unlike his more defensive role at club level, Onyemaechi is given greater freedom with the Super Eagles to support attacks. He has shown his quality going forward with accurate crosses and progressive passing, including an assist for Victor Osimhen against Algeria. With Nigeria’s attack built around aggressive forwards and wingers, Onyemaechi’s discipline and defensive awareness provide important balance.

Born in Owerri in 1999, Onyemaechi left Nigeria for Europe eight years ago and has since played for Feirense and Boavista among others.