Trabzonspor reject €20m bid for Onuachu – Should the Super Eagles striker consider the Saudi Pro League?

Trabzonspor have turned down a €20 million bid from Saudi club Al Ahli for Super Eagles striker Paul Onuachu, according to Afrik Foot.

The Nigerian forward finished as the highest‑scoring Nigerian player in Europe, netting 26 goals in 36 appearances across all competitions for Trabzonspor.

His 22 league goals earned him the Turkish Super Lig Golden Boot, while a brace in the Turkish Cup final against Konyaspor highlighted his ability to deliver in crucial moments.

Al Ahli, fresh from winning the AFC Champions League, are looking to strengthen their attack amid uncertainty over Ivan Toney’s future, and Onuachu fits the profile they are after.

Super Eagles stars Philip Otele, Paul Onuachu, and Fisayo Dele-Bashiru. Copyright: xAndrzejxIwanczukxIMAGO

According to Haber 61, Al Ahli remain interested in Onuachu despite the rejection of their initial offer, and higher figures are expected in the coming days.

Trabzonspor president Ertuğrul Doğan has already indicated that an earlier offer of around €11 million was quickly turned away earlier in the summer, and the club has now rejected a significantly improved €20 million bid.

Trabzonspor caught in two minds over Onuachu transfer

The Turkish club is pulled in two directions. On one hand, Doğan has publicly acknowledged that offers have arrived for seven players this summer, and Trabzonspor are not in the best financial position.

Proceeds from an Onuachu sale would generate enough money to fund reinforcements across multiple positions, especially as the club aims to compete with Galatasaray in the race for the Turkish Super Lig title next season.

Paul Onuachu of Trabzonspor. Photo by Seskimphoto/IMAGO

Trabzonspor’s head coach, Fatih Tekke, is believed to be open to the striker’s departure, favouring a more mobile forward capable of leading a high‑intensity pressing system.

On the other hand, the numbers Onuachu delivered last season make the prospect of replacing him daunting. Twenty‑six goals across all competitions is a benchmark few clubs can take for granted, and the transfer market offers very few like‑for‑like solutions for a striker of his calibre. His presence in the dressing room as one of the senior figures in the squad adds another layer of value that does not appear on the pitch.

Paul Onuachu of Trabzonspor. Photo by SeskimphotoxImago

Is it time for Onuachu to consider the Saudi Pro League?

For Onuachu, this transfer window represents a crossroads that deserves serious consideration.

The former Midtjylland striker spent last season rebuilding a career that stalled during his time at Southampton in the Premier League. He arrived at Trabzonspor with a point to prove and delivered emphatically, but the window for commanding a significant transfer fee will not remain open indefinitely.

At 32, with a physical game that places enormous demands on his body, the question is not whether his powers will eventually decline; it is whether he maximises his earning potential before they do.

Midtjylland’s Paul Onuachu. Copyright: Imago

The Saudi Pro League offers that opportunity. Al Ahli are not a club in decline; they are an ambitious, well‑resourced side with continental pedigree, and they are prepared to back that ambition with serious financial investment in Onuachu.

For a striker who has spent his career in the Belgian Pro League, the Premier League, and now Turkey, the Saudi league represents the chance to earn his final big cheque before retirement comes knocking.

Another angle to consider is Nigeria’s AFCON 2027 qualifiers coming up in September. Onuachu will need regular, high‑profile football to maintain his place in Eric Chelle’s plans.

Nigeria’s Super Eagles. Photo by IMAGO

The Saudi Pro League, for all its financial appeal, has not historically been a platform that shines a light on players for international recognition. Players arrive, earn well, and quietly fade from national team reckoning. That is a risk Onuachu must weigh carefully, given how central his goal‑scoring has become to Nigeria’s attacking options alongside Victor Osimhen and Akor Adams.

Ultimately, Trabzonspor’s rejection of €20 million suggests they believe a higher offer is coming, but the next might be the final one, and the player has to decide on his future ambitions in Europe.