'I can’t wait' - Super Eagles striker Gift Orban speaks about dumping Germany for shock Serie A move

Super Eagles forward Gift Orban has reacted to his decision to leave Germany and join Italy’s Serie A to continue his football journey with Hellas Verona FC.

The 24-year-old Nigerian striker has moved on loan from Bundesliga side TSG Hoffenheim to Hellas Verona, with the Italian club holding an option to make the deal permanent.

Hellas Verona officially announced the acquisition on their website, welcoming Orban warmly and wishing him success in the iconic Gialloblù shirt.

The club’s statement read, “Verona – Hellas Verona FC announces that it has acquired – on loan with an option to buy – the sporting performances of forward Gift Orban from TSG Hoffenheim.

Hellas Verona also extended “a warm welcome to Gift, wishing him a future full of personal and professional success in the Gialloblù shirt.”

From Nigeria to Norway, Orban exploded onto the scene with 16 goals and 7 assists in his first season at Stabæk, lifting the club to the Eliteserien and earning the OBOS-ligaen top scorer title and Young Player of the Season.

A January 2023 move to Gent saw him debut with a brace in a 3-3 Pro League thriller against Westerlo, then fire his first European goal in the Conference League playoffs, quickly breaking records along the way.

In five matches for Gent, he netted seven goals, the season’s top scoring debutant in the Belgian Pro League, and, in under four minutes,threw down the fastest hat-trick in UEFA competition history against Istanbul Basaksehir.

The 2023/24 spell continued with 20 goals and 2 assists in 22 Gent appearances before a 2024 switch to Olympique Lyon, where he added five goals across Ligue 1 and the Coupe de France.

Later that season, Orban moved to Hoffenheim in the Bundesliga, scoring four times in 13 appearances before chasing a new challenge in Italy.

On his official social media, Orban expressed excitement about his new chapter: “I am proud to start this new adventure with this wonderful club.”

“I thank you for the trust and the opportunity. I will give my all on the field for these colors. I can’t wait to get started!”

With this move to Serie A now confirmed, Orban is keen to prove his talent on one of Europe’s biggest stages and continue his rise as a key figure for both club and country.